A new report on the welfare of American youth reports that, for the second year in a row, the humber of homeless youth has increased significantly. According to the US Department of Education, the number of homeless children and youth (preK-12) grew from 678,724 students in 2006-07 to 956,914 in 2008-09. Seventy percent of school districts reported enrolling an increasing number of students experiencing homelessness.
Districts receive funds through the McKinney-Vento Act to fund the education of homeless children and youth but the funding lags the growth in homeless students. Many districts use funding to provide extra academic support, to provide transportation, to support identification efforts and to build relationships with partner organizations in the community. Here are some other ways schools support their students and their families.
- A principal in North Carolina arranged for her food service staff to serve larger portions for Monday breakfast and Friday lunch. She recognized that many of her students would not each much over the week-end. She also gathered bars of soap and towels from hotels in the community and made them available so that students could shower in the school locker rooms.
- At a school in Ann Arbor, MI where more than 60% of students qualify for free or reduced price meals, the staff works with Chartwells, the district's food service provider, and with Food Gatherers, a local non-profit organization to gather food and pack backpacks that students take home on Friday. Principal Kathy Scarnecchia says that keeping students "fed and healthy" helps them to be more successful in school. Students return the empty backpacks on Monday.
- At Hadley Junior High in Glen Ellyn, IL they began Stephanie's Breakfast Club named for a teacher at the school. It's a chance for students to meet, talk with teachers, have a nutritious breakfast and prepare for the school day. Teachers volunteer their time and the food is donated.
What wonderful examples of responding to the needs of their students. How does your school respond to students and families in need? What do you do to care for your students? I'd enjoying hearing from you about ways you support your students who are experiencing homelessness.
During a recent visit to Tampa I read about a Florida high school principal who charged students $2 to attend a pep rally during school hours. If students did not, or could not, pay they were assigned to a study hall. Parents objected to what they called a "shake down." The principal said that he wasn't aware of any restrictions on charging students for such events. 
