Seminole County Public Schools' Families in Transition

Description

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, which protects the rights of homeless children, the Seminole County school district's FIT Program was implemented in 2004 to: Remove barriers to ensure immediate enrollment despite missing documentation; provide transportation to allow students to remain in the zoned school attended prior to becoming homeless; receive free breakfast and lunch; and receive supplemental support services to advance academic success. Assurance of a homeless student in the classroom does not ensure success. More often students are consumed with meeting basic needs like food or shelter. The FIT program works with the community to provide additional basic needs to help stabilize the family including : clothing, school supplies, educational supplemental tools, hygiene items, emergency housing, utilities, school-based food pantries, health care, tutoring, referrals for employment and housing, financial support for student involvement in field trips, sports and clubs, and opportunities for educational family activities. With these needs met, the FIT program believes each homeless student has the tools to engage fully in his or her learning and achieve educational success.