The Impact of Homelessness on Children s Education Trina

1
The Impact of Homelessness on Childrens Education

• Trina Simpson and DeLois Wiles
• Texas A M University-Commerce
• June 29, 2006

2
Fact The request for emergency shelters
increased by 17 percent between 1999 and 2000.
It was estimated that 27 percent of those request
were unmet (Duffield, 2001).

• The purpose of this study is to examine the
  effects of homelessness on childrens education.
  There is a need to identify ways to provide
  supports that will help these children achieve
  academic success. The differences were in
  ethnicity, native language, and school location.
  Data collected from research noted in several
  journal articles was used to identify
  interventions. It is our conclusion that there
  are interventions that will enable students to be
  successful in school.

3
Focus

• Finding ways to meet the needs of homeless
  children has been a major challenge for teachers.
  Studies have shown that when students and their
  families are connected to counseling/community
  services they tend to perform better in school.

4
Fact It is estimated that more than 1 million
youth are homeless on any given night. Of these
more than 750,000 are of school age (Collignon
Nunez, 1997).

• Homelessness has
• many faces

5
The Definition of Homeless

• The federal governments legal definition of
  homelessness based on the McKinney-Vento Homeless
  Education Assistance Act is anyone who.
• Lacks a regular, fixed and adequate nighttime
  residence (substandard housing)
• Is sharing housing due to economic struggles (
  double-up)
• Is living in a shelter, hotel or motel
• Is living in a public place not designed for
  sleeping (cars, parks)
• Is an unaccompanied youth
• Is a child or youth awaiting foster care
  placement
• Is a child or youth abandoned in a hospital
• Is a migrant who qualifies under any of the above

6
Literature review

• Our three primary sources of information were the
  following journals
• Nabors, L. Sumajin, S. Zins, J. Rofey, D.
  Berberich, D. (2003). Evaluation of an
  Intervention for Children Experiencing Forum
  Homelessness. Child Youth Care .
• Markos, P. A., Lima, N. R. (2003). Homelessness
  in the united States and Its Effect on children.
  Guidance and Counseling.
• Noll, E. Watkins, R. (2003). The Impact of
  Homelessness on Childrens Literacy Experiences.
  The Reading Teacher.
• .

7
Fact In 1998, 13.9 million people---40 percent
of all poor people--- had income of less than
half the poverty level (Bureau of the Census,
1999).

• Research Questions
• How does access to counseling services to
  families of homeless children affect students
  achievement, attendance, and self-esteem?
• What impact does failure to follow guidelines of
  the McKinney-Vento Act have on public school
  funding and the provision of educational
  services?
• How does social skills development, teacher
  interaction, and peer tutoring affect the
  academic achievement of homeless children ?

8
Fact Less than 16 percent of eligible
pre-school aged homeless children are enrolled in
preschool programs ( U.S. Department of
Education, 2004).

• Variables
• Creation of a system of checks and balances which
  monitor educational services to homeless
  children.
• Increased accessibility to school/ community
  counseling services.
• Identification of a contact person within the
  school district who could positively impact
  services to homeless children.
• Increased efforts on the part of teachers and
  students peers to offer additional support.

9
Interventions to increase a childs self-concept
at school may provide an important building
block for their later development and
psychological well-being (Markos Lima, 2003).

• Interventions
• Grants that provide funding of salaries for
  shelter tutorial staff, computers, and other
  educational supports.
• Using counselors as a resource for connecting
  with community services that improve the
  family/students quality of life.
• Local Education Agency use of funding form the
  McKinney-Vento Act to ensure that assistance with
  school enrollment, transportation, school
  supplies, and coordination among local service
  providers is available.
• Teacher, volunteer, and peer-based tutoring.

10
Fact A study conducted in New York City, found
that 23 percent of homeless children repeated a
grade, and were placed in special education
classes, many times inappropriately ( Institute
for Children and Poverty, 2003)

• Target Audience
• Homeless children who are old enough to receive
  educational services
• (Pre-K, K, 1-12)
• Families of homeless children

11
Fact Every state has a coordinator for the
education of homeless children and youth.

• Documentation of observations conducted at a
  local homeless shelter.
• Prior to participation in this studies,
  permission was obtained from
• Albuquerque New Mexico School System and
  Childrens parents.
• Information was also obtained from databases.
  (see References)

12
Fact School is one of the few stable, secure
places in the lives of homeless children and
youth ( National Coalition for the Homeless ).

• Data Collection
• Research professional journals/databases for
  statistical information on homeless children

13
Fact Although African Americans are
disproportionately represented among the
homeless, homelessness affects all socioeconomic
classes, ethnicities, cultures, and races but is
clearly linked to poverty (Dail, 2000Nunez
Fox, )

• Data Analysis
• Statistics on homeless children in the United
  States
• 52 percent are age five or younger
• 36 percent are between the ages of six and twelve
  years old
• 12 percent are between the ages of thirteen and
  sixteen years old

14
Fact Congress reauthorized the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Education Act in 2002 and incorporated
it into No Child Left Behind ( U.S. Department
of Education).

• Conclusion
• Supports are key to enhancing educational growth
  for homeless children.

15

• Fact
• Teachers who conduct research on better ways of
  serving homeless children help them to build
  brighter futures (Trina DeLois, 2006).