Tennessee opens McKinney‑Vento subgrant competition; applications due May 21

A Tennessee Department of Education McKinney‑Vento program staff member said the Title IX McKinney‑Vento subgrant application “opens today” and reminded applicants that an LEA authorized representative form must be submitted by May 21 at 5 p.m. Central (6 p.m. Eastern) or ePlan will not accept the application.

The webinar presenter said the competition covers a three‑year grant cycle — fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028 — and that each LEA’s application must include a plan for all three years even though the budget entry in ePlan should show only the FY2026 request. "Each year of the grant cycle, the LEA will be awarded funding and will complete a budget on the approved FY26 grant application," the presenter said.

The subgrant provides federal McKinney‑Vento funds intended to ensure students experiencing homelessness have equal access to a free public education. The presenter said all Tennessee LEAs are eligible to apply regardless of the number of homeless students they serve. Awards are calculated on a per‑pupil basis and, by state rule, no single LEA may receive more than 20% of the state’s award.

Why it matters: McKinney‑Vento subgrant funding can pay for services and activities that directly support the educational stability and success of students experiencing homelessness, including transportation excess costs, tutoring tied to academic standards, professional development for staff, referral services, early childhood programs not otherwise funded, before‑ and after‑school care, mentoring, and fees or supplies needed to enroll and keep students in school.

Key deadlines and process

- Applicant action required: submit the LEA authorized representative form in ePlan by May 21 at 5 p.m. Central / 6 p.m. Eastern or the application cannot be submitted. The presenter warned applicants that ePlan will block late submissions.

- State review: the department will check submitted applications for allowability beginning May 30; grant reviewers (state Department of Education staff organized in reviewer teams) will score applications in June. Applicants will be notified of final status on or before July 3, and awarded funds will be loaded into grant accounts on July 7 for budgeting and reimbursement.

- Scoring minimum: the presenter said each LEA must score at least 70…