The average homeless person in the United States is 9 years old. More than 750,000 homeless children are of school age. Communities of learning, involving collaborations between schools and shelters and inviting community participation, can provide the educational focus and safe haven that homeless children and their parents need. Such communities include parent education programs, day care, after-school tutoring for children, and linkages to direct service providers. Such supports help homeless families deal with problems of inadequate education, substance abuse, domestic violence, and difficulty in finding and maintaining permanent homes. Model programs include the Brownstone School in the Bronx, the Recovering the Gifted Child Academy in Chicago, and the Homeless Children and Families Program in the Salem Keizer Public Schools in Oregon.

Creating a Community of Learning for Homeless Children

Ralph da Costa Nunez

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Creating a Community of Learning for Homeless Children

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