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Haverhill and Lawrence schools will each receive $30,000 to help cover the costs of homeless students attending classes.
The cities were among 47 public school districts across the state named this week to share in more than $1.7 million in federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education grants. The competitive grants help pay for additional support and resources for family engagement, staff training, English language services, tutoring, school supplies and other needs. It is designed to help students experiencing homelessness be successful in school. Officials estimate more than 20,000 students experience homelessness at some point during the school year.
“We’re deeply grateful to the school districts across the state that have been going above and beyond to support students experiencing homelessness and their families, including those who have long lived in Massachusetts and those who have newly arrived in Massachusetts,” said Gov. Maura T. Healey.
These grants help engage families to remove barriers for student attendance, provide regional homeless education liaisons who provide technical assistance and training in collaboration with the state coordinator for homeless education and collaborate with the Massachusetts Migrant Education Program, which serves children of migratory agricultural workers.
“Students experiencing homelessness have the right to the same free public education as every other student in Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Education Patrick A. Tutwiler.
Officials said grants build on efforts to support school districts as they continue to enroll and serve an increased population of students experiencing homelessness, including newcomers. Districts will continue to receive reimbursements this fall for transportation for students who choose to attend their “school of origin,” as well as emergency aid for enrollment to cover the average full per-student cost at $104 per student per day. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education also offers a variety of state resources, technical assistance, and professional learning opportunities available at no cost to districts.
McKinney-Vento grants range from $10,000 to $125,000, depending on the grant priorities a district sought and the number of enrolled homeless students.