Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1426376
M O R E T H A N 269,000 California K-12 students are hom eless — 4.3 percent of all students — and 4 million are "economically disadvantaged," while federal, state and local agencies lack the resources and capacity to support their unique needs, accord- ing to " Stat e of Cri si s: D i smantling Student Hom elessn ess in California," a new report released in October by the Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS) at UCL A. (View the report at transformschools.ucla.edu/stateofcrisis.) Over the past decade, the number of K-12 students experiencing homelessness has increased by more than 48 percent. California col- lege students are also experiencing significant impacts of poverty and inequality at astounding rates — 1 in 5 community college students, 1 in 10 California State University students, and 1 in 20 University of California students have experienced homelessness in the last year. "We can do better. We must do better," says Tyrone Howard, CTS faculty director. "We have to act boldly, unapologetically, and in ways that are centered around our young people." is crisis impacts Latinx and Black students at a disproportionate rate: ey make up 59 percent of the K-12 student population but 79 percent of homeless students, according to 2018-19 enrollment statistics. ese students experience lower graduation rates, are less ready for college, and are almost twice as likely to be suspended or chronically absent as their non-homeless peers. "Broader awareness about the unique needs of the population of students experiencing homelessness can help improve educational outcomes," the report states. "By highlighting the perspectives of students who experience homelessness, this report can potentially catalyze sustained and strategic action among policymakers, educators and concerned citizens to ameliorate this growing crisis." "We have to act boldly, unapologetically, and in ways that are centered around our young people." —Tyrone Howard, faculty director, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools More than 269,000 California students are homeless and another 4 million are "economically disadvantaged." We See You New report finds increasing numbers of homeless students in California By Julian Peeples 35 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 21