Aid urged for homeless school kids
INDIANAPOLIS – Homelessness among children enrolled in Indiana public schools rose 26 percent over the two years ending in 2008-09 as the state felt the brunt of the economic downturn, a new report shows.
The report this week by First Focus, a children’s advocacy group, cited recently released federal data showing that homelessness among students nationwide grew for two straight years since 2006-07. The group called on Congress to pass new funding for homeless student programs, noting that stimulus funding for that purpose is running out.
The First Focus report did not provide the total number of homeless students for the years examined, but Indiana Department of Education data show they numbered nearly 10,000 last year.
The state data said 43 percent of homeless schoolchildren were in kindergarten through third grade. The report also said those students were twice as likely to be suspended from school.
“It’s extremely difficult for the kids. They don’t know where they’re going to be staying tonight, ... if they’re going to get a meal tonight,” said Christina Endres, the department’s coordinator for homeless education.