Project UP START
 

Project UP-START is the Education Program for Children and Youth Living in Transition in Miami-Dade. The program assists schools with the identification, enrollment, and attendance of students in transition to help ensure their successful academic achievement.

Project UP-START services are available to students enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools from Head Start through 12th grade who are experiencing unstable housing. Any student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, as defined by the Stewart B. McKinney-Bruce Vento Homeless Assistance Act, qualifies for Project UP-START.

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A student who is residing in the following circumstances qualifies for Project UP-START:

·       Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason, also known as “doubled-up;”

·       Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;

·       Living in emergency or transitional shelters; or
·       Living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, train station, or other public or private place that is            not designed for ordinary use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

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If your family is experiencing unstable housing conditions based on any of the categories above, please complete the Project UP-START Student Eligibility Questionnaire (FM-7378) below and electronically submit it to the Project UP-START Program or provide the completed form to your child’s school: https://projectupstart.dadeschools.net/#!/fullWidth/2140

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Upon enrollment into the Project UP-START Program, students will automatically receive free lunch. Students can apply for transportation through Project UP-START if they live over two (2) miles from their School of Origin, the school the student was attending when he/she had stable housing. Efforts are made to expedite psycho-educational evaluations for children who may be gifted or who are experiencing academic or behavioral difficulties. Project UP-START also works to increase advocacy on behalf of students through the distribution of information to school-based personnel on issues related to unstable housing and available community resources.

For questions regarding Project UP-START, please call us at: 305 995-7558; 305 995-7318; or 305 995- 1729. You may also send us an email to projectupstart@dadeschools.net.

For emergency shelter, please immediately contact the Homeless Helpline at 877 994-4357.

For additional information, please access the Project UP-START’s Website at: http://projectupstart.dadeschools.net.

Attendance 
You may send your child's note to 0041attendance@dadeschools.net

The only excused absences are illness, doctor’s or dentist’s appointment, death in the family, religious holidays or school related activities.

Absences from class for reasons other than those named above are considered unexcused and work cannot be made up. 

Every absence should be followed by a note from the parent or doctor explaining the nature of the absence. If the illness is highly contagious, please notify school staff. 

When a student is absent for two consecutive days, the school should be contacted by phone to explain the reason for the absence. 

Any student who accumulates ten (10) or more unexcused absences in a given grading period may be subject to the withholding of grades, pending an Attendance Review Committee Conference to review all absences. This may affect promotion to the next grade.  Your child’s ten or more unexcused absences and/or tardies may lead to placement on Probation. 

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