The Rhode Island Department of Education will ensure that all children and youth experiencing homelessness have the opportunity to attend, enroll in and succeed in school. The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires all school districts to ensure access to public education for children and youth experiencing homelessness and to ensure their success in school once enrolled. This includes: 

• Choice of School; 
• Comparable Services;  
• State or Local Policies Must Not Keep Homeless Children from Attending School; 
• and Homeless Children Must Not Be Segregated.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act authorizes the Rhode Island Department of Education to award grants to local school districts for the development and implementation or continuation of programs to provide supplementary educational and related services to homeless children and youth.  Every 3 years, the Rhode Island Department of Education offers a competitive grant application process for funds available through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.  The next Request for Proposals to solicit grant applications from local school districts will be offered for the 2013-2014 school year.  Further information regarding this application process will be made available at that time. 

The 2010-2011 McKinney-Vento grant application and related documents are available for viewing below:

• 2010-2011 Grant Application Summary
• McKinney-Vento Grant Allowable Activities
• 2010-2011 Grant Application Guidance
• 2010-2011 McKinney-Vento Grant Application Forms, Checklist and Rubric Scoring Document
• 2010-2011 Grant Application Required Budget Forms

• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act – Subtitle B – Education for Homeless Children and Youths
• US Department of Education - Education for Homeless Children and Youths
• National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
• National Center on Homeless Education
• National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
• National Network for Youth

Contact: Eileen Botelho