The number of homeless children and students has dramatically increased in spite of the best efforts of schools, social service agencies and community to solve the issue. Thus, the U.S. Department of Education decided that the new federal policies for education of homeless children will take effect on Oct. 1, a school year earlier than other parts of the law.
The recently enacted "Every Students Succeeds Act" was signed by President Barack Obama in December. It substituted the "No Child Left Behind Act" and revised the federal education law under the "McKinney-Vento Act," which offers protections and services for homeless children and youth, PR Newswire notes.
The U.S. Department of Education's announcement came after they decided that the amended policies and practices are needed to be employed in school districts nationwide. This move will ensure the identification, enrollment, stability and success of homeless children and youth.
"Swift implementation of this law is essential to ensure that homeless children and youth receive the education that is their best hope of escaping poverty and homelessness as adults," National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) Policy and Program director Barbara Duffield said, as per Yahoo! Finance.
Duffield also added that the newly-amended policies will "represent best practices from states and school districts" nationwide. She also emphasized that NAEHCY, an association dedicated to educational excellence for homeless children, is looking forward to collaborating with "schools, communities, families and youth to implement" the laws.
Recently enacted "Every Students Succeeds Act" included 5 key components. First, the designation of appropriate school personnel with proper training, which will help identify, enroll and support homeless students.
Second vital component in "Every Students Succeeds Act" is additional school stability for homeless children and youth. This will help ensure that they can stay in their same school throughout their homelessness, especially when it is for their best interest.
Third is graduation readiness improvement. This can be done by ensuring college counseling and access to documentation for financial aid.
Fourth is providing assistance to young homeless children to have access to early childhood programs. And the last but not the least is authorization of additional funding to support school district efforts to identify as well as serve children and youth that are experiencing homelessness.
