American Rescue Plan

Congress’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) package for COVID-19 relief provides nearly $123 billion in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, which includes $800 million specifically dedicated to supporting children and youth that are experiencing homelessness. There were two rounds of funding for homeless students. The first round of ARP funds was provided to State Educational Agencies in late April with the second round of funding in July. The NC Department of Public Instruction received:

• Round I $5,894,156 
• Round II $17,682,469

The funding is designed to meet the educational needs of homeless children and youth impacted by the pandemic. The funds are designed to facilitate the identification, enrollment, retention, and educational success of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The funds must be used to supplement the McKinney-Vento’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) funding in order for the state to address the urgent student needs that have evolved from the pandemic, including academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of our students, the much-needed trauma-informed care training, and for the state, as well as the PSUs, to increase the capacity of local homeless education programs by hiring staff.

Additional services MAY include:

• Providing wraparound services; the services could be provided in collaboration with community-based organizations,
• Purchasing needed supplies (e.g., PPE, eyeglasses, school supplies, personal care items),
• Providing access to reliable, high-speed internet for students through the purchase of internet-connected devices/equipment, mobile hotspots, and/or
• Paying for short-term, temporary housing (e.g., a few days in a motel) when such emergency housing is the only reasonable option for COVID-safe temporary housing and when necessary to enable the homeless child or youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities (including summer school).

Additionally, these funds may be contracted with community-based organizations that are well-positioned to identify youth from historically underserved populations, including rural children and youth, Tribal children and youth, students of color, children and youth with disabilities, English learners, LGBTQ+ youth, and pregnant, parenting, or caregiving students, to connect them to educationally related supports and wraparound services with local educational agencies.

Requirements of Funding:

The funds are required to be administered by the office of the state coordinator for homeless education. The state can reserve up to 25% for state-level activities. Sufficient funding should be provided to conduct training, technical assistance, capacity building, monitoring, oversight of district funding, and engagement to support PSUs in identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness.

Identified needs for our students in NC who are experiencing homelessness include:

• Tutorial services beyond the school day such as before and after school, in locations in the community like at shelters, libraries, and community centers;
• A safe place beyond the school day to work on class assignments, homework, and other projects;
• Transportation services that provide access to attend educational opportunities that enhance full engagement in school, such as much-needed tutorial services and academic enrichment activities;
• Increased credit accrual opportunities to maximize academic success;
• Prioritizing in-person learning opportunities;
• Ensure students have access to connectivity, devices, and other technology to be connected to their schools;
• Trauma-informed care;
• For our unaccompanied homeless youth to have access to medical care, nutritional programs beyond the school day, being able to obtain their licenses without parental consent, and obtain housing; and/or
• Others.

Priorities with funding would include:

• Increased human resources to provide training, technical assistance, support capacity-building, and engagement at the State and the PSU level for the increased identification of and increase academic success of students experiencing homelessness;
• Provide all PSUs with funding to support the identification, enrollment, services, and academic success of students experiencing homelessness; include increase in graduation rates, and reduce dropout counts of homeless students; 
• Provide support for summer learning programs, including transportation needs;
• Provide support for before and after learning programs, including transportation needs;
• Trauma-informed practices to be proactive in identifying, meeting and serving student needs; and/or
• Tutorial services beyond the school day that where students experiencing homelessness may be at along with having access throughout the community.

Identification and Data:

Homeless liaisons across the state have faced various issues with identifying students during the pandemic due to learning remotely and not being face to face in the building. Restrictions on home visits along with limited access to services have also played an impact on identification. As the moratorium on evictions has been lifted and students have returned to the brick-and-mortar setting, an increase in identifications is occurring.

Other Remarks:

The pandemic has forced a greater awareness of the actual needs of the families and students who are experiencing homelessness. Students find safety and stability in their school buildings. With the closure of schools, and students working remotely, the high needs of these students have been brought to light. Needs such as food insecurity and Internet connectivity are now being seen by many more rather than just those working directly with this population. Access to in-person learning provides a safe and stable environment for students experiencing homelessness. Social and emotional needs, food, shelter, and engaging with classmates are significant to students’ academic outcomes.