Mississippi will receive over $10.6 million from the U.S. Department of Education to help support the needs of students experiencing homelessness.
Through the American Rescue Plan, the department will issue $800 million across the county with the first round of funds—$2.6 million for Mississippi—going out next week.
In a letter to all Chief State School Officers, the department urged states to use this funding to identify homeless children and youth, provide wraparound services in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide assistance to enable homeless children and youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities, including in-person instruction this spring and upcoming summer learning and enrichment programs.
“The pandemic made the inequities in our education system even worse, especially for students experiencing homelessness,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. “As districts and schools return to in-person learning, we must act with urgency to provide all students, including students experiencing homelessness, equitable access to high-quality learning environments and the resources to help meet their basic needs which schools often provide.”
The Department’s letter to Chief State School Officers provides additional information and recommendations to support states and school districts in putting these resources to work to support students experiencing homelessness, particularly for student groups who have been historically underserved.
The remaining funds will be allocated to states as soon as June.
