Federal Stimulus Dollars Support Homeless Children & Youth
School District 51 gets $80,000
Colorado Department of Education – Communications Office
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-3898
Aug. 5, 2009
News Release
The Colorado Department of Education today announced 17 grants to support homeless children and youth with additional dollars available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
In all, the approved grants will provide $924,815 over the next two years. The grants will provide a variety of support, including tutoring and academic enrichment programs, professional development for teachers and others who work with homeless populations, early childhood education programs, mentoring, summer programs, clothing and school supplies.
During the 2008-2009 school year, Colorado received $853,617 for “regular” funding of programs under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act so the stimulus dollars represent an increase of more than 50 percent in financial resources if regular federal spending remains stable.
“These funds represent a tremendous boost to homeless youth and children statewide,” said Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones. “The importance of giving these students access to a stable, quality education is immeasurable and has the potential to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness that may otherwise continue.”
Dana Scott, coordinator of the Homeless Assistance Act program at CDE, said many school districts in Colorado and across the country are reporting increases in the number of homeless students in the classroom, largely due to the economic downturn and increased foreclosure rates.
“The increase in homelessness among children and youth means that liaisons and homeless education programs are further stretched in their efforts,” said Scott. “The stimulus dollars will provide much-needed additional resources.”
CDE administered a competitive Request for Proposals process to identify school districts and education agencies to receive the ARRA assistance. One hundred percent of the available dollars will flow to school districts and BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services).
The recipients are Adams County School District 50 ($50,000 over two years); Adams School District 14 ($44,815); Aurora Public Schools ($60,000); Boulder Valley School District ($60,000); Brighton School District 27J ($60,000); Centennial BOCES ($40,000); Denver Public Schools ($70,000); Eagle School District ($40,000); Englewood Public Schools ($60,000); Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 ($40,000); Greeley-Evans School District 6 ($60,000); Jefferson County Public Schools ($70,000); Mesa Valley School District 51 ($80,000); Mountain Valley School ($10,000); Pueblo City Schools ($60,000); San Luis Valley BOCES ($80,000); and Sheridan School District ($40,000).
Applications were read and scored by a team of reviewers comprised of representatives from educational programs, homeless service provider agencies and other stakeholders with children and youth experiencing homelessness.
During the 2007-2008 school year, 12,302 students in Colorado were identified as homeless. Totals for the 2008-2009 school year are expected to be available in November.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires every school district to appoint a local liaison for homeless education to ensure proper identification, immediate enrollment and awareness of available educational services.
For more information, contact Mark Stevens, 303-866-3898, or Megan McDermott, 303-866-2334, in the CDE Office of Communications. To sign up for the CDE e-mail news service, please visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/Communications/index.html.
