Project UP-START Information for Parents and Families
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.
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.
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:
Project UP-START Student Eligibility Questionnaire (FM-7378)
English Spanish Creole
Parents can bring the completed form to the CSW school office or email it to Mr. Estrada, Dean at gestrada@charterk12.com
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: https://projectupstart.dadeschools.net/#!/fullWidth/4553
