Joplin Schools get grant to help homeless students

JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin Schools was recently awarded a grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in support of resources for homeless students. The 2023-26 Education of Homeless Children and Youth Subgrant (EHCY) awards Joplin Schools $200,000 per year through 2026, for a total grant award of $600,000.

Each funding year is contingent upon annual McKinney-Vento allocations provided to the State as well as Local Educational Agency (LEA) compliance with implementing the program as described in the proposal, and meeting State requirements for reporting and monitoring.

Joplin Schools Executive Director of Student Services Dr. Jordan Dickey said this is the second three-year cycle the district has been awarded for the McKinney-Vento grant, and that last year, the district served more than 500 students who qualified for services under McKinney-Vento.

“We are thrilled with this award,” Dickey said. “Last year, the district served more than 500 students who qualified for services under McKinney-Vento, and we are proud of the work done to break down any barriers to their access to education. Grants like EHCY allow us to dedicate personnel and resources to meet the needs of these students so we can ensure they are Learning Today for a Better Tomorrow.”

The EHCY grant will be used toward the salary of a McKinney-Vento Case Manager in the district to work with families and students and connect families with needed resources; a Counselor to support mental health needs of students experiencing homelessness; and partial support of the salary for a Dean of Students who’s charged with focusing on attendance and other issues affecting McKinney-Vento students. Funds will also help cover the costs of school supplies, transportation needs, equipment fees for FTC classes and sports, and other items or registrations needed to ensure McKinney-Vento students have access to an equitable school experience.

Tara Porter, McKinney-Vento Case Manager for Joplin Schools, noted that she is committed to seeking out community resources to help break down barriers for students to succeed in school.

“I’ve learned Joplin has so many community resources,” said Porter. “I utilize those community resources first to make sure our students and families have every opportunity to succeed. The McKinney-Vento Grant is such a blessing to our School District because we are able to utilize funds to fill in the gaps where our community resources cannot help families and students.”

Students qualify for assistance through McKinney-Vento if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are:

• doubled-up in shared housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason;
• living in motels, hotels, or campgrounds due to the lack of adequate housing; ● living in emergency or transitional shelters;
• abandoned in hospitals;
• in a primary nighttime residence that is not ordinarily used as sleeping accommodations for humans;
• living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings;
• migratory children.