The Washington State Constitution emphasizes our “paramount duty” to see that every young person receives a solid basic education. There’s no equivocation in that constitutional mandate, either — no hedging, such as, “… that is, if the young person has an address.”
Thousands of students in our communities have no address. In fact, if the 30,600 homeless students got together and formed their own school district, it would be the second-largest of our state’s 295 districts. Approved in the 2014 session, a measure promising stronger attention to the life and times of these homeless students has been signed into law. Only six legislators opposed Senate Bill 6074 out of the 147 members of the two legislative chambers.
In committee-testimony on the measure, one youngster said she’s homeless because the family’s house burned down. Dad died when she was 16. Mom has substance-abuse issues. Her school’s homeless liaison helped the girl find the right resources to make it through high school. Now she’s in college.
Also in committee, a Tukwila educator pointed out that 11 percent of his school district’s students are homeless. He said the Tukwila district invests about $350,000 a year out of local-levy funds toward services for homeless students.
Our schools have seen a 12 percent increase over last year in the homeless-student population. Getting a handle (and keeping said handle) on who these children are and where they “live” is an obvious first step toward strengthening their education. A good portion of this responsibility is funded in the state’s supplemental operating budget also approved this past session. To wit, the homeless-student legislation:
- Requires that the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) report data on homeless students.
- Requires that OSPI produce a video providing information aimed at identifying and supporting homeless students.
- Requires that OSPI distribute “best practices” for educators who serve as their district’s homeless-student liaison.
- Requires that districts report dropout-rates for homeless students in grades 7 through 12.
- Requires that districts, every year, strongly encourage more staff-training in meeting homeless-student needs.
- Requires that districts, every year, include information about support for homeless students with other annual materials.
Homelessness isn’t an issue confined to large urban centers, as pointed out in the Tukwila educator’s testimony cited above. Suburban schools in the relatively affluent Redmond area, too, report a significant number of homeless students seeking assistance. These youngsters, wherever they reside, are more likely to miss school (if they go at all), and to fall behind every time they move to new living quarters. Kids with no address are nine times more likely to repeat a grade.
Always and in all ways, closing the educational opportunity and achievement gap for homeless youngsters should be a prime directive. Early intervention for homeless students is pivotal.
Also check this HDC Advance item from Feb. 28, 2014, for a review of challenges facing homeless students in our state.