Commissioner of Education Angélica Infante-Green | Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) has awarded more than $457,000 to twelve local education agencies (LEAs) across the state to support students experiencing homelessness. The funding comes from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law that aims to ensure educational rights and services for PreK-12 students who are homeless.
Governor Dan McKee emphasized the importance of this support, stating, "For students who are experiencing homelessness, being in school every day can be an overwhelming challenge, and we’re working as a state to ensure they have the right support and assistance to get ahead. I’m grateful to these schools that provide stability for our students, helping them stay connected to learning, and to their communities."
Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green highlighted the significance of federal funding for these efforts. "The funding that Rhode Island receives from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is essential because it sustains the work that our schools are doing to ensure that every child, no matter their housing situation, has the help they need to succeed in school," said Infante-Green. "Here in Rhode Island, we will keep investing in our students because we know the truth: there is no greater driver of individual success — or our success as a state — than education."
The funds were distributed through competitive subgrants under McKinney-Vento guidelines. Each approved application for 2025 included interventions aimed at promoting student attendance and removing barriers related to enrollment and academic achievement.
Examples of how LEAs plan to use these funds include after-school tutoring and workforce readiness training in Central Falls; after-school programming with the Girls and Boys Club in Middletown; and improving access to technology at Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter High School.
The award amounts vary by district: Central Falls ($46,652), Middletown ($50,000), North Kingstown ($40,000), North Providence ($13,980), The MET ($40,000), Providence ($50,000), RI Nurses Institute ($30,000), Scituate ($30,000), Warwick ($40,000), West Warwick ($40,000), Westerly ($27,500), and Woonsocket ($49,773). In total, $457,905 was distributed among these districts.
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