Schools report surge in homeless students

By Ledyard King, Gannett Washington Bureau -- Sunday, July 31, 2010

WASHINGTON — Nearly 1 million homeless students attended public schools in 2008-09, a 41%
increase over the previous two years and another sign of how broadly the economic recession has
struck America.

The numbers, based on federal data, were released Tuesday by groups advocating for more federal
aid for struggling families.

South Dakota saw its number rise from 1,038 in 2006-07 to 1,794 in 2008-09 -- a 73% increase.

The 22,000-student school district in Sioux Falls has seen the number of homeless kids jump 44%
over the past five years. Today, more than 1,000 pupils — about one child per classroom — don't live
in permanent homes.

"We have homeless students identified in every school in the district," said Gail Swenson, supervisor
of the district's Office of Homeless Education. "Some would like to believe one part of town would not
have a homeless child and another part would. It's across the board."

The report said there were nearly 680,000 homeless students, classified as those without permanent
housing, in the 2006-07 school year. By 2008-09, that number had climbed to almost 957,000 due to
increasing bankruptcies, home foreclosures and unemployment. Forty-three states saw their rolls
increase, including five states with more than double the national growth rate: Texas (139%), Iowa
(136%), New Mexico (91%), Kansas (88%), and New Jersey (84%).

Advocates are asking Congress to provide at least $140 million for homeless students next year, the
same amount Congress allocated this year to help with medical care, school supplies and
transportation. But about half of that was economic stimulus money that may not be available in 2011.

More funding could be a long shot with lawmakers increasingly looking for way to cut federal spending
and corral the federal debt.

"Schools are uniquely positioned to provide safety, structure and services for homeless children," said
Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus, which released the report with the National Association for the
Education of Homeless Children and Youth.

Swenson said it's critical that homeless students not miss extended periods of school because of their
transient situation.

"With every move that a child makes, they can lose from three to six months of academic gain," she
said. "A child who virtually misses third grade loses out on multiplication and cursive writing and that
affects the rest of their life."

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-07-31-homeless-students_N.htm