The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this federal program, state educational agencies must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, as other children and youth.

FSDB is a public agency designed to serve visually impaired and deaf/hard of hearing students with proof of Florida residency. Regardless of whether or not a family or child is homeless, a child may still attend FSDB. This program’s guidance at FSDB is provided by Operational Policy and Procedure 10.36.

The following services are offered to McKinney-Vento Homeless Program students:

1. Clothing and shoes free of cost

2. Book or STEAM enrichment kits for summer learning

For more information on homelessness, please visit the following websites:

• Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Family and Community Outreach

• Florida's Homeless Liaisons

• Florida Coalition for the Homeless

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (McKinney-Vento Act)

• National Center for Homeless Education

For more information or how to apply for homeless services at FSDB, contact: