Project PRAISE (Providing Requisite and Academic Instructional Services Equitably) is the program in the Putnam County School District that serves homeless children and youth under the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.  The program is funded through an annual Title X grant written specifically for this project and with partial funding from Title I.

The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.  Under this program, state educational agencies must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth.

The Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act states that children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are considered homeless.

Project Praise is designed to provide academic support services to these children that include (but are not limited to): Enrollment, tutoring, homework assistance, before and after school programs, preschool enrollment, home visits, parent education/literacy, counseling, diagnostic services, transportation, some emergency services (clothing, food, gas, stipends, eta.), as well as supplies for school.

For more information, contact the Federal Programs Office at (386)329-0543.