Charlottesville City Schools is committed to supporting our students who are experiencing homelessness. A team provides programs to assist in the creation of successful academic experiences for these students. The CCS homeless liaison is responsible for ensuring the identification, enrollment and access to the academic programs offered by CCS.

Information on this page:

• What families experiencing homelessness need to know
• Information about Project HOPE-Virginia (Virginia’s program for the education of homeless children and youth)
• Staff contacts

What families experiencing homelessness need to know:

• Children and youth who are homeless have a right to attend school;
• You do not need to have a permanent address to enroll in school;
• You have the right to attend the school you last attended before becoming homeless (school of origin) if evaluated to be in your best interest;
• Your child has the right to transportation service to and from their school of origin;
• Homeless children and youth have the right to immediate enrollment;
• Enrollment records, including past school records and health records are not a reason for denial to immediate school enrollment. Help securing these documents can be offered by your school personnel and the Homeless Liaison;
• If enrollment disputes arise, schools must provide you with written explanation and your right to appeal;
• Unaccompanied homeless youth have these same rights.

Project HOPE – Virginia

Project HOPE-Virginia is Virginia’s program for the education of homeless children and youth.  The College of William and Mary administers the program for the Virginia Department of Education. Funding is authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (P.L. 114-95).

Project HOPE – Virginia ensures the enrollment, attendance, and the school success of children and youth experiencing homelessness through public awareness efforts across the commonwealth and subgrants to local school divisions. School divisions develop customized programs to meet the needs of homeless children and youth in their area. Project HOPE – Virginia funds activities throughout the school year, including early childhood education, mentoring, tutoring, parent education, summer enrichment programs, and domestic violence prevention programs. In addition, emergency services, referrals for health services, transportation, school supplies, and costs related to obtaining school records may be provided through the local Homeless Education Program.

Staff Contacts

Find our full list of social workers and mental health professionals here.

To Learn More

Patrick Farrell, CCS Homeless Liaison, FarrelP1@charlottesvilleschools.org
Jodie Murphy, Alternate CCS Homeless Liaison, MurphyJ1@charlottesvilleschools.org
1562 Dairy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 245-2405