Helping Homeless Students
In the year 2018 there has been an increase in student homelessness in Washington State. While there are many factors that can lead to homelessness, one of the main factors in Washington State is the lack of affordable housing. This year in Washington, roughly 1 in 25 public school students will experience homelessness and in Seattle it is 1 in every 13. These students lack of a stable home makes it hard for them to focus in school, get their homework done, or even attend school.
“‘If you don’t have a stable place to live, and you don’t have secure food, the learning is so minor in their priority array,’ says Superintendent Chris Reykdal, who was elected in November 2016 and assumed office in early 2017.”
To improve this issue, one effort taken by Washington is an increase in transportation. Local grants have made it possible to provide transportation so students can still attend the school district they once attended before they became homeless. Another effort made by Washington is called, “Community in Schools.” Money received from grants funds networks of support for students whose families are homeless. This way the families have access to things such as dental checkups and they are able to eat a meal on the weekends.
Chris Reykdal Superintendent of public instruction.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2018-11-02/washington-state-works-to-meet-homeless-students-needs