http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2014/09/29/homeless-high-schoolers-face-barriers-to-education
Homelessness, of course, will pose barriers to education for students. What I found interesting and good information to know for those who will work in schools is that "public schools are required under federal law to ensure that homeless students have access to a free public education. Homeless youth are allowed to stay in their school, regardless of where they end up, and school must provide students transportation to that school." Despite this, "young people who experience homelessness were 87 percent more likely to stop going to school according to the 2014 Don't Call Them Dropouts report from the America's Promise Alliance and its Center for Promise at Tufts University". Homelessness is a challenge for today's students, and it is something school social workers and educators need to be aware of to be informed on why students may be missing school and also to try to help prevent students from dropping out of school.
I think it is important for us to be aware and informed about why students may be missing school. This may lead to more resources being made for homeless children to get the safe places to sleep, clothing, food and transportation to keep them going to school each day. The child may have access to free education, but the basic needs have to be met before they can even use that federal law to their advantage.
ReplyDeleteIn undergrad I did a lot of research on students and families who experience homelessness and the McKinney-Vento Act that is meant to protect the rights of these students and their families. It was really interesting to me how many social workers in schools and teachers had no idea about the services schools are mandated to provide to students who are living in transition and how that affects their education. Social workers can definitely play an important role in educating teachers and school staff as well as linking students and their families to services for transportation and housing as the issue continues to affect more and more students and families.
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