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Student homelessness is a growing problem in our schools, and the statistics show that it’s imperative we do more. The number of homeless students in pre-K through 12th grade increased 19 percent since the 2010-11 school year; just were enrolled in public schools during the 2014-15 school year. Over the same time period, funding for the (EHCY) program has remained at roughly $65 million, resulting in a decrease in the average per pupil rate in federal funding for additional supports needed by homeless students.

Homelessness can be a major environmental risk factor with on the cognitive and behavioral development of children. Homelessness can also increase a child’s vulnerability to stressors, such as substance abuse, poor nutrition, and unsafe living situations. These stressors are especially impactful on areas of the brain that control memory and ability and systems.

Considering these factors, it’s not surprising that large disparities exist between the academic achievement of housed and homeless students. under the age of five have at least one developmental delay, and almost half have two developmental delays. The two most common delays are related to speech and fine motor skills, both of which are important for productive learning experiences and interactions.

The consequences of homelessness can be detected in students as early as pre-K. But to do so, educators first need to know which students are homeless so they can provide necessary supports, such as mental health services. Yet, although early childhood programs can improve educational outcomes for homeless children, for homeless prekindergarten-age children remain disproportionately low. In 2015, only of children experiencing homelessness were enrolled in federally-funded early childhood programs.

Accurately identifying our most vulnerable students is difficult due to a about what homelessness is. What’s defined as “homelessness” varies by federal agency, and eligibility for programs depends on which agency is funding them. The definition used by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) includes individuals who are “doubled up,” or living temporarily with another relative or family due to economic hardship. More than of all homeless students live in doubled up situations, but these students and their families may not want to disclose their status due to lease violation or because they’re unaware of their legal rights.

The is a federal law that provides funding to states and school districts to ensure educational stability for homeless children and youth, including those in doubled up situations. It established the EHCY program, in which state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) work with to remove to high-quality education, such as transportation, immediate enrollment despite lack of proper records, and the right to stay at the current school even after a student’s housing location has changed. School liaisons also report about homeless school-age children to ED to better understand the prevalence of homelessness in schools and the supports they may need.

The enactment of the (ESSA) in 2015 contained the first amendments to the McKinney-Vento Act in over ten years, with more rigorous procedures for SEAs and LEAs to effectively protect and provide for homeless students. ESSA also increases funding for the EHCY program up to by 2020.

Specific to is the of school stability and transportation rights for younger homeless children. Under ESSA, the “school of origin,” the school the student attended before becoming homeless, as opposed to beginning at kindergarten. Due to this change, transportation to and from the pre-K of origin until the end of the school year is now required. These changes show an increased focus on the right for homeless prekindergarten-age children to access and receive services for which they are eligible, such as Head Start, early intervention services through of the (IDEA), and pre-K programs administered by LEAs.

Although state pre-K programs are now recognized under revisions of the McKinney-Vento Act in ESSA, access to these programs varies depending on local eligibility criteria, availability, and funding. Of all the states with pre-K programs, include risk factors other than income level to determine eligibility. Almost half include homelessness or unstable housing as a risk factor, but six states still offer no universal pre-K, have no income-only requirement, and use risk factors other than homelessness and unstable housing to determine eligibility for their pre-K programs. In addition, ESSA mandates student enrollment even without proper medical records or birth certificates, but many pre-K programs may still be unaware of the new federal policy and follow other state and local enrollment requirements.

A new by the shares how some states are developing best practices for identifying and serving homeless children in early childhood education (ECE). Nevada has focused on expanding its ECE system for homeless children and ranks as the most improved for serving homeless children in Head Start. From 2013 to 2015, the number of homeless students in Nevada’s Head Start programs increased .

Using results from a conducted in 2013 with Early Head Start and Head Start grantees, Nevada created a and a to enhance relationships between Head Start grantees and service providers, reach more families in unstable housing situations, and develop comprehensive data systems to monitor the progress of homeless children and effectiveness of early childhood programs. Nevada’s Early Childhood Advisory Council also pushed for additional funding to provide for pre-K students and established the Tribal Early Childhood Advisory Council, taking into consideration the demographics of their state. These efforts display Nevada’s commitment to their most vulnerable, and often invisible, student populations.

The report ranks Maine as the most improved for serving homeless pre-K students, with of school districts offering a during the 2015-16 school year. Maine’s Public Preschool Program has , and districts partner with regional Head Start grantees to provide with wrap-around services, which is helpful for homeless families who cannot afford childcare or transportation services.

Overall, states still vary widely in their commitment to homeless children, but ESSA provides a new opportunity to refocus states' efforts on their youngest children experiencing homelessness. For more information, read this from the Department of Health and Human Services for state-by-state analysis and data on early childhood homelessness.

* This post was originally written by Nicole Hsu and published on July 7, 2017. It was re-published with a new introduction by Aaron Loewenberg on November 18, 2019 to commemorate National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.

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