To: President Donald Trump, The Minnesota State House, The Minnesota State Senate, Governor Tim Walz, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
More funding for the Education of Homeless Children
Please support more funding ($1 million) for the Education of Homeless Children. Students and families deserve better programs.
Why is this important?
I am asking our state representatives and community leaders in Minnesota to allocate more funding for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and programs for homeless families. In Minnesota, the challenge of homelessness for families has grown more striking in recent years. In 2012, The Wilder Research Center found that homeless families and children made up the largest segment of homeless people in Minnesota. Homeless children, in particular, have disproportionate negative academics experiences, including high rates of transferring schools, absenteeism, and grade repetition, among other barriers.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides federal funds for states to build awareness of the needs of these children and families who face homelessness. The McKinney-Vento Act also guarantees immediate enrollment to a school of choice and stability for homeless students and families. Yet the reality is not all districts implement this law nor have an active homeless liaison. Also, many districts struggle to pay for the transportation of their students from temporary residences to schools miles away.
It is, thus, imperative that every school district is aware and well-educated about this law or the stigma attached with homelessness will continue. Therefore, I ask that we support more funding for the McKinney-Vento Act, more trained liaisons, and more community partnerships to eliminate this stigma for students and their families.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides federal funds for states to build awareness of the needs of these children and families who face homelessness. The McKinney-Vento Act also guarantees immediate enrollment to a school of choice and stability for homeless students and families. Yet the reality is not all districts implement this law nor have an active homeless liaison. Also, many districts struggle to pay for the transportation of their students from temporary residences to schools miles away.
It is, thus, imperative that every school district is aware and well-educated about this law or the stigma attached with homelessness will continue. Therefore, I ask that we support more funding for the McKinney-Vento Act, more trained liaisons, and more community partnerships to eliminate this stigma for students and their families.