Welcome Refuge: Homeless Children in our Schools
For just over 30 years, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the federal government’s first major legislative response to homelessness, has worked to remove the educational barriers experienced by homeless children and youth. Three decades later, there are 1.3 million homeless students in U.S. schools, an increase of 160 percent since 1987. And there are hundreds of thousands more homeless children who have already dropped out, or are still too young to be enrolled in school.
The numbers of homeless children and youth seem unimaginable. In Pennsylvania alone, during the 2016-2017 school year, there were 30,264 homeless children and youth. During the same year, 194 children and youth met the criteria to be designated as homeless in the Gettysburg Area School District. These individuals range from preschoolers to seniors.
The Act defines homeless students, including migratory children, as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. Students living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations are considered homeless. Further, the Act describes as homeless those students living in emergency or transitional shelters, abandoned in hospitals, living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings serving as a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for a human being. Finally, youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, or who have run away from home, or separated from their parents for any reason are considered homeless.
Under the guidance of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Pennsylvania developed the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Plan. This plan is to ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, as provided to other children. Each school district must designate a staff member who will act as the local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth. As an unfunded mandate, each school district must absorb most the costs associated with this legislation.
As reported by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, many homeless students feel the barriers to education. Lack of awareness and stereotypes get in the way of the creation of positive relationships. High mobility results in the lack of school stability and educational continuity. Poor health, fatigue, and hunger are experienced every day by homeless students. These variables along with emotional trauma, depression, and anxiety are devastating to positive interpersonal development. Then, there are the everyday issues many take for granted including transportation, school supplies, and lack of appropriate clothing to name just a few.
As the local educational liaison for the Gettysburg Area School District, I work closely with school counselors, other school district staff, and community agencies to assist the homeless students and their families by building the capacity of others to assist in identifying, enrolling, and ensuring the educational success of homeless children and youth, thereby reducing the disruption in the educational experience. It is so important that students have the opportunity to be in school and fully participate in their education. These efforts assist the students to develop their self-confidence through participating in a safe and caring environment.
Staff work quickly to enroll students meeting the homeless criteria so they can begin attending school as soon as possible. Continuity in education is an important variable for success. If it is determined to be in the students’ best interest, they have the opportunity to continue in their school of origin even if they are residing in another district. In this case, transportation arrangements are made by the sending and receiving school districts to maintain attendance. Students are also eligible to participate in the school district’s breakfast and lunch programs. And like all other students, they receive assistance from school counselors to advise, prepare, and improve readiness for post-secondary activities.
Because of these child-centered best-interest decision making efforts, homeless children and youth have a better chance at a successful experience in school and defeating the negative impact of being homeless. Support for local initiatives like Ruth’s Harvest and South Central Community Action Programs are critical in reaching those in need. It is the hope of all of the stakeholders that we can continue to provide the tangible supports needed to increase their ability to stay in school and do well.
John J. Lewis is a guest writer for the Education Task Force of the Gettysburg Democracy for America. He is a resident of Gettysburg and currently serving the families of the district as the coordinator of educational services. He has worked in the GASD for almost 19 years.