One growing problem in education is students experiencing homelessness in Delaware.
As of a few years ago, there were about 4,400 students in Delaware identified as homeless or who lacked a fixed adequate nighttime residence.
Ann Aviles is a University of Delaware associate professor who recently co-authored a book on how students facing homelessness can be supported. She says the homeless issue for students is worse than we think.
"The last time I looked really hard at data what we found was about one in 30 students are experiencing homelessness regularly, and so we like to think about it as very likely most classrooms have about 25 to 30 students. At least one student in each teacher's classroom probably is experiencing some sort of housing instability or homelessness," said Aviles.
Aviles notes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is supposed to help those students with a goal of minimizing education disruptions for homeless students.
It guarantees students the right to enroll in a public school even if they lack the required documents and immunizations while also guaranteeing transportation for school.
The act also says schools need to provide uniforms if it is required.
Aviles says everyone needs to know about this law.
"Schools have to have notice posted in the school, in the front office - places where parents and students are - so that they can see that," said Aviles. "If they don't know about it if they see a sign in school they can go ‘oh okay, yeah, I meet that criteria.’"
She adds parents should be as transparent as possible with their children in homelessness situations and always make sure they know you’re there for support.
