U S Government Accountability Office

Education of homeless students, improved program oversight needed U S Government Accountability Office

" The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act established a grant program to help the nation's homeless students-more than one million in school year 2011-12-have access to public education. Under the Education for Homeless Children and Youth grant program, states and their school districts are required to identify homeless children and provide them with needed services and support. In fiscal year 2014, Education received about $65 million to administer this program. Education provided formula grants to states, which competitively awarded funds to school districts to help meet program requirements. GAO was asked to review program implementation and oversight. GAO examined (1) how districts identify and serve homeless students and challenges they face (2) how Education and states collaborate with other service providers to address student needs and any barriers, and (3) the extent to which Education monitors program compliance. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws, guidance, and reports, and analyzed Education's state and school district survey data from school year 2010-11. GAO also interviewed federal officials, and state and local officials in 20 school districts-representing a mix of urban, suburban, and rural districts and grant status-in four states, selected for geographic diversity and other characteristics, such as experience"