Programs+in+Schools+for+Homeless+Students

Sarah Bard December 5, 2011 EDC 102 Professor Noonan Annotated Bibliography


 * Anderson, M. (2011, April 20). Special schools for homeless students bursting at the seams. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/recordDetails.jsp?searchtype=keyword&pageSize=10&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=homeless and school&eric_displayStartCount=1&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b804761cc&accno=EJ930031&_nfls=false

- The Monarch School is a public-private partnership between the San Diego school board and the nonprofit Monarch School project. It is one of a handful of schools across the nation that are specifically designed to serve and help students who are affected by unstable housing conditions. These schools are, unfortunately, struggling to keep up with the ever growing population of homeless students. At this point in time, the school serves approximately 170 students, but has seen a 74 percent increase in enrollment over the past three years. The school does not like to turn any students away, but has more than reached its full capacity and has outgrown its space. In the past month, at the time this article was published, there were 60 students on the waiting list for this school. The current maximum capacity of this school is 320. With the construction of a new building, officials are hoping to be able to serve an additional 350 students. The constant rise in this population of students is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with though, but schools like the Monarch school are making their best effort to meet these demands. - I was surprised to find out just how much the population of homeless students is growing. I knew that it was, unfortunately, on the rise, but I was unaware of just how large these numbers were. Schools are, as the title of this article states, “bursting at the seams” and these numbers of students are far from slowing down let alone decreasing. Fortunately schools like the Monarch School are making efforts to serve as many of these students as they possibly can.


 * Baggerly, J. (2004, December). Applying the asca national model to elementary school students who are homeless: A case study. Retrieved from []

- This article discusses a case study of an African American female elementary school student who is homeless. It also discusses different ways that school counselors can provide help to students in unstable housing situations. It talks about different methods that can be used, such as play therapy. It also discusses all of the various ways that students in these situations are affected; academically, socially, behaviorally, self-concept, etc. Overall, it reviews this case study and looks at different approaches and methods used to help this student and how it helped her. - It was interesting to look at how even just your everyday school counselors are involved in helping students in these situations. Generally, when you think of programs for a homeless student you tend to think of some special program, but help for them can be as simple as someone to talk to, guide them, and be there to support them in every aspect of their life. If all schools have counselors that are equipped to handle these students in a helpful and productive way, special schools, such as the Monarch school, will not have to be relied upon to serve all of these students. That would be impossible given the every growing amount of these students.


 * Eckholm, E. (2009, September 5). Surge in homeless pupils strains schools. Retrieved from []

- This article gives a basic overview and understanding of the life of a homeless student living in America. It talks about the student themselves, and talks about the overwhelming population of these students in schools. These students need to be served and given a little extra support, the situation that they are currently living in is stressful on anyone and can be extremely difficult for children to understand and deal with. There is, unfortunately, a rapid growing amount of these students and schools are not being able to give all of the help that they should because they are not equipped to handle these numbers. A plan needs to be put together to help schools to help these students. - This is again another article showing distress from schools towards the ever growing population in homeless students. Schools do not know what to do anymore. The numbers are becoming frighteningly overwhelming and are showing no sign of slowing or decreasing. Schools need help to know what to do or come up with better plans to serve these students and give them the help that they need.


 * Grothaus, T. (2011, February). answering the call: Facilitating responsive services for students experiencing homelessnes. Retrieved from []

- In this article different methods of study are reviewed and compared. These methods of study are geared towards students in unstable housing conditions and are meant to supplement their learning. An after school tutoring service was also examined and the results showed a significant difference in the number of failed courses in students who participated in this program for one year. This tutoring service is designed for students of families experiencing homelessness. The same study though did not show a large increase in grade point average, so though it helped in getting students to pass courses, there is still room for improvement in this program. This article also discussing some suggestions and recommendations for methods of practice. - This article showed me that not only are there programs in schools that address the academic needs of homeless students, but that there are also outside programs too. They can essentially focus more effort and attention into these student’s educations that teachers can, unfortunately not give them in class, due to the fact that they must also address the needs of the rest of the class as well. It is good to see that there are ways for these students to get the tutoring that they need so that they can pass all of their classes, though it is shown that there is still room for improvement within these programs.


 * NCHE. (2008, July). Education for homeless children and youth program analysis of data. Retrieved from []

- This source is an analysis of data given from schools on academics of homeless students. These reports are to ensure that homeless students are getting an appropriate education. The EHCY (Education for Homeless Children and Youth) Program was designed with the purpose of improving the educational outcomes of children and youth in unstable housing conditions. In 2004 it was made a requirement, on behalf of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, that all states submit data on program improvement for these students. This is where this information comes from and what it is for. - It is comforting to see that the government is actively working to see to it that these children are not being left behind in their education just because they are having a hard time due to the situation they have been put in. This program is strictly in reference to the academic aspect of these students lives though and does not address the other aspects such as clothing, food, emotional issues, etc. Thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act many programs have been put in place to help these students with their academic success, but more programs should be made readily available to assist these students with the essentials such as clothing and food.