Every Student Succeeds Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.; hereafter the McKinney-Vento Act), establishes the definition of homeless used by U.S. public schools, and the educational rights to which children and youth experiencing homelessness are entitled....DCF FEE EXEMPTIONS - https://www.floridacollegesystem.com/students/homeless_students.aspx,. Title XLVIII K-20 EDUCATION CODE Chapter 1009 EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, FEES, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE View Entire Chapter 1009.25 Fee exemptions.

DCF Fee Exemptions

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1. What is the Department of Children and Families (DCF) fee exemption?

According to Florida law, some students who were in DCF custody, adopted, in a relative’s custody or placed in court guardianship may be exempted from paying tuition and fees at Florida College System institutions. 

2. I want to attend a Florida College System institution. How do I know if I am eligible for this exemption?

You could be eligible for the fee exemption if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You were in the custody of DCF when you turned 18.
• You were adopted from DCF after May 5, 1997.
• You were in the custody of a relative when you reached the age of 18.
• You were placed in a guardianshipby the court after reaching age 16 and spent at least 6 months in the custody of DCF.

3. I am currently living on my own and am over 18 years old. Am I still eligible for this exemption?

If you meet any of the criteria listed above you may be eligible to receive the DCF fee exemption until you reach 28 years of age. 

4. What paperwork is needed to determine if I’m eligible?

You can obtain required paperwork from DCF or an approved Community BasedCare Lead Agency representative. Please contact DCF for additional information. 

5. What does the exemption cover?

This exemption covers tuition and fees only. This means that you will be required to pay other costs associated with college, such as textbooks, housing and food. Be sure to talk with the financial aid office and admissions office about additional fees. 

6. What are other options to help pay for college?

There are many ways of keeping college affordable. Students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible. The FAFSA is used by the college to determine eligibility for federal and state aid. The exemption does not cover the cost of books, housing or food. FAFSA can help you determine other sources of aid to help with costs not covered by the exemption. View federal and state financial aid programs. 

Homeless Fee Exemption

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1. What is the Homeless Fee Exemption?

According to Florida law, a student who is homeless may be exempted from paying tuition and fees at a Florida College System institution. For the purpose of the fee exemption, Florida law defines homelessness as, “A student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter designed to provide temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.” 

2. How can I find out if I am eligible for the exemption?

If you think you may be eligible for the homeless exemption, you should speak with someone in the admissions and financial aid offices of the college you seek to attend. 

3. What paperwork is needed to determine if I’m eligible?

To qualify, students may need documentation from a homeless shelter, school district homeless liaison, transitional living program, runaway shelter or other documentation requested by the college. Each college has its own process, so you need to ask the college you’re interested in attending about what is required. 

4. What does the exemption cover?

This exemption covers tuition and fees only. This means that you will be required to pay other costs associated with college, such as textbooks, housing and food. Be sure to talk with the financial aid office and admissions office about additional fees. 

5. What are other options to help pay for college?

There are many ways of keeping college affordable. Students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible. The FAFSA is used by the college to determine eligibility for federal and state aid. The exemption does not cover the cost of books, housing or food. FAFSA can help you determine other sources of aid to help with costs not covered by the exemption. View federal and state financial aid programs. 

Contact the FCS institution homeless student advisors listed below for questions and assistance. 

Vivian Scott Broward College 954-201-7919 | vscott1@broward.edu	Shelia Nobles North Florida Community College 850-973-9432 | nobless@nfcc.edu
Maureen Anderson College of Central Florida 352-254-2322 ext. 1280 | Andersom@cf.edu	Dr. Aimee Watts Northwest Florida State College 850-729-4957 | wattsa@nwfsc.edu
Brooke Mathis Chipola College 850-718-2437 | mathisb@chipola.edu	Peter Biegel Palm Beach State College 561-868-3532 | biegelp@palmbeachstate.edu
Beth Hoodiman Daytona State College 386-506-3619 | hoodimb@daytonastate.edu	Bob Bade Pasco-Hernando State College 727-816-3413 | badeb@phsc.edu
Dr. Sandra Handfield Eastern Florida State College 321-433-5091 | handfields@easternflorida.edu	Susan Desbrow Pensacola State College 850-484-1600 | sdesbrow@pensacolastate.edu
Crystal Janasiewicz Florida Gateway College 386-754-4361 | crystal.janasiewicz@fgc.edu	Kathy Bucklew Polk State College 863-298-6820 | kbucklew@polk.edu
Katie Norland Florida Keys Community College 305-809-3181 | katie.norland@fkcc.edu	Bea Awoniyi Santa Fe College 352-395-5513 | bea.awoniyi@sfcollege.edu
Mark Bukowski Florida Southwestern State College 239-489-9067 | mbukowski@fsw.edu	Tanya Fritz Seminole State College of Florida 407-708-2897 | fritzt@seminolestate.edu
Kathleen Von Balson Florida State College at Jacksonville 904-633-8209 | kvonbals@fscj.edu	Debra Moyer South Florida State College 863-784-7447 | moyerd@southflorida.edu
Melissa Lavender Gulf Coast State College 850-747-3211 | mlavender@gulfcoast.edu	Susanne Walters State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota 941-752-5603 | walters@scf.edu
Warren Smith Hillsborough Community College 813-253-7533 | wsmith3@hccfl.edu	Gilbert Evans St. Johns River State College 386-312-4127 | gilbertevans@sjrstate.edu
Joseph Lemieux Indian River State College 772-462-7129 | jlemieux@irsc.edu	Cheryl Kerr St. Petersburg College 727-341-3736 | kerr.cheryl@spcollege.edu
Carolyn Scott Lake-Sumter State College 352-536-2211 | scottc@lssc.edu	Mia Ziegler Tallahassee Community College 850-201-9767 | zeiglerm@tcc.fl.edu
Wendy Joseph Miami Dade College 305-237-1514 | wjoseph@mdc.edu	Dr. Benjamin Lion Valencia College 407-582-1344 | blion@valenciacollege.edu

SEC. 1031. SHORT TITLE.

This part may be cited as the 'McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001'.

SEC. 1032. EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS.

Subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.)

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