Supporting Students & Families Experiencing Homelessness

Resource Document for Best Practices for Supports and Services to Students Who Experience Homelessness

2024 General Assembly HB168 required the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board a resource document containing guidance and best practices for providing the necessary supports and services to homeless students, including guidance and best practices relating to:

• decisions regarding whether and when such a student should remain enrolled in a school in a previous school division of residence;
• wrap-around supports and services for such students that include the parents when they are available and specific wrap-around supports and services for such students who may have experienced additional trauma prior to becoming homeless; and
• any other means by which such students can be best served and protected, particularly those homeless children and youths who are at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking.

The Resource Document for Best Practices for Supports and Services to Students Who Experience Homelessness provides information and tools for staff that support students experiencing homelessness.

Project HOPE 

The Virginia Department of Education has designated The College of William & Mary School of Education as the institution responsible for effective coordination of the Virginia Homeless Education Program. The program is called Project HOPE-Virginia.  

Project HOPE - Virginia funds activities throughout the school year, including early childhood education, mentoring, tutoring, parent education, summer enrichment programs, and domestic violence prevention programs. In addition, emergency services, referrals for health services, transportation, school supplies, and costs related to obtaining school records may be provided through the local Homeless Education Program. 

Information about the state program and local resources can be found on the HOPE Website.