More kids are leaving their school day without a home to go to, a Washington DC based group reports. First Focus issued surveys to school districts across the US to monitor the homeless student population. They received 1700 responses and increase nationwide in the number of kids without homes.
For services that homeless kids rely on, such as transportation and counseling, Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools served 59% of last year's entire caseload in just the first two or three months of the fall term, according to Phillip Lovell, Vice President for Education Policy.
Eau Claire saw an 84% increase in homeless students between this time last year and now. By late October, Racine Unified School District saw a 35% jump, the group reports.
With school districts financially strapped, coupled with a foreclosure crisis, Lovell says the homeless kids are stuck in the middle, "losing out more than anyone else."
The education analyst calls House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, a Wisconsin champion on this issue. First Focus is hoping Obey will include funding for these special school programs as part of the proposed economic stimulus package.
AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :95)
