Using Title I Funding to Serve Students Experiencing Homelessness

 Title I  aims to provide all children with “significant [opportunities] to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.” To achieve this, federal law requires that states develop accountability systems to identify and support schools that serve students who are struggling academically. Schools and districts can use Title I funds to improve student outcomes, including academic achievement.  

Schools and districts must set aside Title I funds to use for services for students who meet the McKinney-Vento definition of experiencing homelessness. For inquiries regarding fund availability and usage, please email HomelessEducation@education.ohio.gov. 

Allocating Funding

Schools and districts receive full-time equivalent (FTE) data from the previous school year within the Title I funding application, allowing them to determine appropriate dollar amounts to set aside for supporting students experiencing homelessness. Given the wide variety in the number of children and youth served, as well as the diverse array of grants and community resources that schools and districts handle, schools and districts can describe how other resources impact the set-aside in Title I grant applications. 

Best Practices

There is no specific dollar amount per student required by federal law, however, schools and districts are required to set aside an amount adequate enough to properly address the multifaceted needs of students experiencing homelessness. While determining the appropriate amount of set-aside for their student population, schools and districts can consider implementing the following best practices: 

  • Include the district’s homeless education liaison in the decision-making process. Liaisons work directly with students and families experiencing homelessness and likely have the most up-to-date knowledge about the costs of meeting needs. 

  • Use data to guide allocation decisions. Schools and districts can analyze the number of students identified as experiencing homelessness in EMIS and analyze attendance and achievement outcomes through state report cards to obtain the most accurate information tailored to their specific populations. 

  • Complete a needs assessment. Needs assessments can provide an accurate depiction of currently provided resources and pinpoint areas of critical need. Consider whether the set-aside will support the enrollment, attendance, and academic success of students experiencing homelessness. 

Funding Uses

Districts and schools have a variety of ways to utilize Title I set-aside funds; this flexibility empowers districts and schools to decide what activities will best serve their specific needs.  Regular evaluation of Title I funded activities, coupled with collaborative efforts involving the district’s homeless education liaison during fund allocation, can maximize student academic achievement and district outcomes.   

Schools and districts can elect to use set-aside funds for:  

  • Staffing . Title I funds can support the employment of a full-time staff member, a portion of a full-time staff member, or a part-time staff member.    

  • Excess Transportation Costs. After exhausting all other state and local funding sources, districts can use Title I homeless set-aside funds to cover excess costs of transportation. Transportation not ordinarily provided by the district may also be paid for using Title I set-aside, including:  
    • ​Preschool transportation,    
    • Transportation to and from extracurricular activities, and   
    • Interim transportation services.   
  • Academic and Non-Academic Services. Once all state and local funding sources have been exhausted, districts and schools can use Title I set-aside to address academic and non-academic barriers to student success. When determining specific areas requiring more support, it is best practice to use information from state report cards, which include disaggregated information on graduation rates and academic achievement of children and youth experiencing homelessness. Eligible categories include: 
    • Uniforms and supplies,    
    • Enrollment services such as records transfer, birth certificates, and immunizations,   
    • Referrals or services for medical, dental, mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence issues,   
    • Costs associated with removing barriers to participation, retention, and success in school (i.e. extracurriculars, tests, graduation, lab or other course material fees, high school equivalency assistance, credit retrieval, etc.),   
    • Before- and after-school programs, summer school programs, tutoring, and mentoring,   
    • Fines or other fees,   
    • Outreach, including services to re-engage youth and coordination with community agencies including entities that support LGBTQIA+ youth, and   
    • Family engagement.  

Related Resources 

Last Modified: 2/27/2024 2:55:06 PM