ERIC ED437480: The Education of Homeless Children and Youth: A Compendium of Research & Information.

205 Pages·1998·3.2 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
UD 033 275
ED 437 480
Stronge, James H., Comp.; Popp, Patricia, Comp.
AUTHOR
The Education of Homeless Children and Youth: A Compendium
TITLE
of Research & Information.
National Center for Homeless Education, Greensboro, NC.
INSTITUTION
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (ED),
SPONS AGENCY
Washington, DC.
1998-00-00
PUB DATE
204p.; "With Carole B. Geiger, Phoebe Gillespie, Rita
NOTE
Morgan, Donna Nalley."
RJ96006701
CONTRACT
SERVE, Publishing and Quality Assurance, Distribution
AVAILABLE FROM
Specialist, 1203 Governor's Square Boulevard, Suite 400,
Tallahassee, FL 32301 ($12, plus $2.50 shipping and
handling). Tel: [phone] (Toll Free); Web site:
<http://www.serve.org>.
Reference Materials
Information Analyses (070)
PUB TYPE
Bibliographies (131)
MF01/PC09 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
*Access to Education; Community Support; *Educational
DESCRIPTORS
Legislation; Elementary Secondary Education; Federal
Legislation; *High Risk Students; *Homeless People; Parent
Participation; *Urban Schools.
ABSTRACT
This publication provides current research and related
literature on issues surrounding the education of homeless children and
youth. It includes a variety of perspectives, reflecting the most recent
trends in homelessness, determined by changes in policies, economics, and
demographics. It also offers the latest research and scholarly opinions from
the fields of psychology, sociology, child and family development, and
education on the effects of homelessness on children. Section 1 provides an
overview of issues surrounding the education of homeless children and youth,
reviewing legislative and policy issues and discussing educational
considerations, family connections, and community support services. Section 2
includes actual reprints of articles by expert;; on educating homeless
children and youth. Section 3 provides an annotated bibliography of articles,
chapters, books, and reports. The resources are organized alphabetically by
author. Section 4 presents legislation: the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless
Assistance Act. Individual sections contain references.
(SM)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
The Education of Homeless
Children and Youth:
A Compendium
of Research &
National Center for
ation
Info(r
Homeless Education
at SERVE
00
71-
N
(1")
44
OP<
BEST COPYAVAILABLE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
EDU ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
R
CENTER (ERIC)
This document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
originating it.
Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
Learning
tG ough
roving
Deve opment
Research
Points of view or opinions stated in this
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI'position or policy.
i
National Center for
Homeless Education
at SERVE
NCHE is funded by the U.S. Department of
Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education (OESE). The NCHE developed this
Compendium of Research & Information with funds
from OESE.
The NCHE wishes to acknowledge the support and
direction provided by Mary Jean LeTendre, Director
of Compensatory Education Programs, and Shawn
Mussington, Education Program Specialist, at OESE.
Please note a correction to page 111: The phone
number listed for the U.S. Department of Education's
Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program
is [phone].
*
3
The Education of Homeless
Children and Youth:
A Compendium of
Research az Information
The Education of Homeless Children and Youth:
A Compendium of Research 81 Information
Produced by
The
at
REGIONAL
EDUCATIONAL
SERVE
LABORATORY
Associated with the School of Education,
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
www.serve.org
National Center for
Homeless Education
at SERVE._
Compiled for NCHE by
James
Stronge, Ph.D.
H.
Patricia Popp
With
Carole B. Geiger
Phoebe Gillespie, Ph.D.
Rita Morgan
Paula Spady
Edited by
Charles Ahearn, Ed.D.
Donna Nalley, Ph.D.
Designed by
Marissa Coffenberry
Kelly Dryden
The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Office of Educational
Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial prod-
ucts, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
This document was produced with funding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Depart-
ment of Education, under contract no. RJ96006701.
4
Helping Homeless Students Build Resilience:
Acknowledgments
What the School Community Can Do
80
A Long Road Ahead: A Progress Report on
5
Foreword
Educating Homeless Children and Youth
in America
94
Section One
Educating Homeless Children With Dignity
Introduction and Overview of Issues
6
and Care
104
Setting the Stage
7
Providing Educational Services to Homeless
A Review of Legislative and Policy Issues
9
Students: A Multifaceted Response to a
Complex Problem
113
Educational Considerations
13
Improving Educational Opportunities for
Family Connections
17
Students with Disabilities Who Are
Community Support Structures
20
Homeless
125
List of Reprinted Articles
136
Section Two
24
Section Three
Selected Articles
Annotated Bibliography
137
Education of Younger Homeless Children in
Urban Settings
25
List of Annotations
184
Homeless Families Since 1980: Implications
for Education
33
Section Four
One Family at a Time
46
Legislation: The Stewart B. McKinney
Homeless Assistance Act
186
Creating a Community of Learning for
Homeless Children
50
About SERVE
195
Reaching the Hard to Reach: Educating
Homeless Adolescents in Urban Settings
55
SERVE Publications Ordering
Meeting the Educational Needs of Homeless
Information
Children
65
197
Legal Issues in Educating Homeless Children:
SERVE Publications Order Form... 200
Past Accomplishments and Future
Challenges
70
T COPY AMUR
F
National Center for
Homeless Education
at SERVE
Funded by the U.S. Department
NCHE Staff
of Education, the National
Beth Garriss, Ph.D.
Center for Homeless Education
(NCHE) was established at SERVE to
Director, NCHE at SERVE
provide critical information to those
who need it to remove barriers to edu-
Diana Bowman
cation and to improve educational op-
Homeless Education Specialist
portunities and outcomes for homeless
children and youth across the nation.
The goals of the NCHE are
Abigail Peoples
* To disseminate important resource
Homeless Education Associate
and referral information related to
the complex issues surrounding the
education of homeless children and
youth
NCHE Help Line
* To foster collaboration among vari-
ous organizations with an interest
800-308-2145
in addressing the education of
homeless students
.
NCHE Website
* To promote national grassroots
awareness of homelessness and
http://www.serve.org/nche
homeless education issues
We gratefully acknowledge the following individuals
who assisted in the development of this Compendium:
Jean Williams, Ph.D.
Deputy Executive Director
of Programs, SERVE
Deborah Bingham
Student Intern
update their knowledge on the issues will find a
For over a decade, researchers, policymakers,
wealth of information in the Compendium. Section
service providers, and educators have ad-
I of the publication, an introductory primer, pro-
dressed homelessness and provided informa-
vides an overview of the issues surrounding the
tion to guide communities in meeting the needs of
education of homeless children and youth. To en-
homeless families and individuals. Much public at-
able readers to explore the topics in the primer
tention has focused in particular on homeless chil-
more fully, Section II includes actual reprints of
dren and youththe fastest-growing population of
articles by experts on educating homeless children
homeless individuals.
and youth. Section III provides an annotated bibli-
Although many states and communities have de-
ography of articles, chapters, books, and reports.
veloped programs and policies to meet the needs
The resources are organized alphabetically by au-
of homeless children and families, these efforts
thor. However, for readers interested in a particu-
have only scratched the surface of a pervasive,
lar topic, matrices that precede Sections II and III
growing, and overwhelmingly misunderstood prob-
enable them to select readings that address spe-
lem. There is so much that needs to be done.
cific themes and issues. A reader may select from
The Education of Homeless Children and Youth: A
the following topics:
Compendium of Research and Information provides
* Background information
current research and related literature on issues
surrounding the education of homeless children
* Legal and policy issues
and youth. The Compendium includes a variety of
perspectives, reflecting the most recent trends in
* Educational support
homelessness, determined by changes in policies,
* Family connections
economics, and demographics. The Compendium
also offers the latest research and scholarly opin-
ACommunity support structures
ion from the fields of psychology, sociology, child
The Education of Homeless Children and Youth: A
and family development, and education on the ef-
Compendium of Research and Information is an
fects of homelessness on children.
important publication for anyone involved in in-
Readers who want to learn about educating home-
creasing educational access and success for home-
less children and youth and readers who want to
less children and youth.
National Center for Homeless Education
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
Introduction and Overview of Issues
Organization of the Compendium
Tr his introductory primer was intended to
1 provide the reader with an overview of the
issues surrounding the education of homeless
children and youth. To explore the topics in-
troduced more fully, Section Two of the Com-
pendium provides actual reprints of articles,
followed by Section Three's annotated bibliog-
raphy of articles, chapters, books, and reports.
9
TCOPYAVAIL
LE
ucating Homeless Children and Youth: A
Prim
eat n
not uncommon to hear a homeless parent say, "I
Why was this Compendium Created?
never thought it could happen to me."
During the past two decades, large numbers of chil-
dren have experienced homelessness. Despite me-
Definitions vary among social agencies and stud-
dia coverage, advocacy efforts, and the passage of
ies on homelessness that have been conducted. For
federal legislation to protect the educational rights
educational purposes, the definition of homeless
of homeless children and youth, what happens at
provided in the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless
the schoolhouse door and beyond is often subject
Assistance Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-77) and amended
to chance rather than consistent application of
by P.L. 101-645 and P.L. 103-382 prevails. The
policies and procedures. Many educators remain
McKinney Act defines a homeless person as one
unaware of their special responsibilities to educate
whose nighttime residence is
this population of students and lack the knowledge
* A supervised publicly or privately operated
to support homeless students in their schools and
shelter designed to provide temporary living
classrooms. Before the educational rights and needs
accommodations (including welfare hotels, con-
of homeless children and youth can be met, educa-
gregate shelters, and transitional housing for
tors must have tools to gain the awareness and
the mentally ill)
understanding of this population of students. This
Compendium was created as one such toolto build
AA public or private place not designed for, or
awareness and provide resources to enhance edu-
ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accom-
cators' knowledge of homeless students.
modation for human beings (for example, cars,
campgrounds, motels, and other temporary
Who is Considered Homeless?
places)
The stereotype of homelessness is often the "bag
* A doubled-up accommodation (that is, sharing
lady" or single man living on the street. However,
housing with other families or individuals due
since the early 1980's, there has been an alarming
to loss of housing or other similar situations)
rise in family homelessness not witnessed in the
United States since the Great Depression
Even when schools are knowledgeable of the rights
of homeless students to a free, appropriate public
(McChesney, 1993) with homeless children now
education and are willing to be supportive, recog-
comprising the fastest-growing segment of the home-
nizing who is homeless remains a challenge. Par-
less population (The National Coalition for the
ents may be reluctant to share information about
Homeless, 1998, p. 1). Homelessness can range from
their homeless condition due to their discomfort
acute and short-lived through chronic homelessness
with their current living situation, fears that their
associated with extreme poverty. The causes of
children will not be accepted in the school or may
homelessness include lack of affordable housing and
be stigmatized by thoughtless remarks, and fears
a minimum wage that places the working poor at
that they may lose their children to protective ser-
great risk should a crisis arise (for example, job
vices and be seen as "unfit" parents. The following
loss or illness). Domestic violence, mental illness,
is a listing of possible signs that could indicate a
substance abuse, and even natural disasters can
child is homeless:
create conditions that lead to homelessness. In
addition, changes in the economy have placed many
It. History of attending many schools
families in precarious housing situations, and it is
It. Hunger and hoarding of food
10