RIDE Awards $336,000 to Support Students Experiencing Homelessness Across Rhode Island
Published on Monday, October 19, 2026
PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee and Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green today announced that the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) has awarded $336,000 in subgrants to eleven local education agencies (LEAs) through the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program.
The awards mark the second year of subgrants made possible through RIDE's annual McKinney-Vento grant. The funding enables LEAs to expand access to transportation, academic assistance, and wraparound supports so that students experiencing homelessness can attend school more consistently, reduce chronic absenteeism, and remain on track for academic success.
"Rhode Island has worked hard to protect and build upon the progress we've made for students over the last several years, and we continue to close the achievement gap with Massachusetts," said Governor Dan McKee. "To keep that momentum going, we must ensure every student continues to learn, grow, and succeed, regardless of their circumstances. Investments like these help students experiencing homelessness receive the support, stability, and opportunities they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond."
"Rhode Island's steady progress depends on ensuring that every student, especially those with the greatest needs, has access to the support and opportunities necessary to succeed," said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. "These investments help remove barriers to learning for students experiencing homelessness by connecting them with transportation, academic assistance, and essential services. RIDE is proud to make these investments because continuing our state's progress means ensuring all students can get ahead, regardless of their circumstances."
Through the subgrants, participating LEAs will provide a range of services tailored to the needs of students and families experiencing homelessness, including:
- Expanding access to out-of-school programming, transportation services, workforce readiness training, uniforms, hygiene and technology supports, mobile hotspots, and STEM school vacation activity bags.
- Increasing academic support through targeted academic and social-emotional interventions, credit recovery opportunities, tutoring, mentoring, attendance monitoring, and student engagement supports.
- Strengthening wraparound services through individualized student and family success plans, parent leadership workshops, health care coordination, family outreach, self-advocacy and life-skills activities, family resource navigation, and connections to community partners.
Subgrant awards were determined based on several factors, including meaningful involvement of parents and guardians of students experiencing homelessness, coordination with local and state agencies and services, and each LEA's plan to evaluate the impact of the funded activities.
The following LEAs received Year Two McKinney-Vento EHCY subgrants:
- Central Falls School District: $28,919.26
- The MET Career and Technical School: $40,000.00
- Middletown Public Schools: $30,993.99
- North Kingstown School Department: $40,000.00
- Providence Public School District: $30,993.99
- Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College: $18,596.39
- Scituate School Department: $18,596.39
- Warwick Public Schools: $40,000.00
- West Warwick Public Schools: $40,000.00
- Westerly Public Schools: $17,046.70
- Woonsocket Education Department: $30,853.28
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act helps ensure children and youth experiencing homelessness have equal access to a free and appropriate public education and the opportunity to meet the same academic standards as their peers. RIDE continues to work closely with school districts and community partners to remove barriers to enrollment, attendance, and academic success for students experiencing housing instability.