At least 269,000 students in California from kindergarten through 12th grade were experiencing homelessness at the end of the school year in 2019, according to a study by the University of California, Los Angeles' Center for the Transformation of Schools released on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The number of homeless students has increased by 48% over the last decade and researchers said these numbers are almost assuredly much higher now due to massive job losses and economic instability resulting from the coronavirus pandemic
Joseph Bishop, co-author of the report, said other factors contributing to the problem over the past decade are the skyrocketing cost of housing in many parts of the state, an increase in day-to-day living expenses, and over-burdened social services, according to EdSource.
The study also found that despite a federal rule to help homeless students, two-thirds of children in California attend schools with no federal aid targeted for homelessness, the Times reported.
According to the report, those experiencing homelessness are twice as likely to be suspended or chronically absent, have a lower high school graduation rate, and are half as likely to be prepared to attend state universities.
Latino students comprise 54% of California students but make up 70% of students in the state who are experiencing homelessness, according to the report. Although Blacks make up only 5% of the student population, 9% are experiencing homelessness.
The study said schools, organizations, and local government agencies should work together on an integrated response to alleviate the problem.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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