Homeless students find refuges in public schools
Federal law gives them more access to education, food and transportation
By PARIS ACHEN, Houston Chronicle Correspondent, September 29, 2004

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Steve Campbell / Chronicle
CATCHING UP: Eighth-grader Shakeem Bright, 13, is taking courses to catch up with his reading and math at the Gregory-Lincoln Education Center in the Houston Independent School District.

The public school system helped Flor Vasquez make the leap from living at a homeless shelter to attending the University of Houston.

While a student at Lamar High School in the Houston Independent School District, a school counselor provided her with free school supplies, lunches and bus fare between the shelter and school.

"Those school supplies were like my weapons for life," said Vasquez, who wants to be a nurse. "They helped me to go on to the next level. I couldn't have gone to college without them."

Because of a federal law reauthorized in 2001, public schools have become refuges for homeless students, where education, food, clothing, and dental and medical services are more accessible than ever, local educators say.

Opening doors
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires school districts to immediately enroll homeless children, even if they lack the usually compulsory immunization records, school transcripts and proof of residency.

"It makes it easier for homeless students regarding education," said Dave Schrandt, coordinator for admissions and attendance in the Cypress-Fairbanks school district.

"Before, schools would not enroll them without those documents, or enrollment was delayed. Now, they are enrolled right away."

WITHOUT SHELTER
Facts about homeless children:

• In the U.S.: More than 800,000 children are homeless in the United States each year.
• In Houston: Last year, 1,054 out of 211,500 students in the Houston school district were homeless.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education and Houston Independent School District

The law also calls for each school district to designate a liaison to identify children living in shelters, motels and other provisional dwellings, help them enroll in school, and ensure they get immunizations or their medical records.

The liaison also makes referrals for dental, medical and mental health services, notifies parents of educational programs, and arranges transportation for homeless students.

"One barrier for homeless students is transportation," said Constance Thompson, the Houston school district's liaison for the homeless and director of guidance and counseling.

"When their family moves they can't make it to the school they were attending. The law made school districts provide transportation to the child's school of origin in order to provide more stability for that child."

The Houston school district offers tutoring at the Star of Hope and Salvation Army homeless shelters and tutoring and remedial courses at its campuses.

Staying flexible
Since moving from New York to the Star of Hope shelter in Houston, 13-year-old Shakeem Bright has been taking courses at the Gregory-Lincoln Education Center in the Houston school district to catch up with his reading and math.

"The school district offers remedial studies, which he wasn't getting in New York," said Arlene Stewart, Shakeem's mother.

"He has changed very well. His grades came up."

For homeless high school students, Houston, Alief, Katy and other school districts offer flexible-schedule education programs, including summer school and GED classes.