Beyond backpacks and bus tokens: next steps for a district homeless student initiative

Abstract

How policies get translated and enacted by school districts frame how students experience reforms associated with federal law. This qualitative case study of a Northern California school district explores the importance of integrating homeless student initiatives within all aspects of the district functioning. Drawing from the equity framework of Skrla, McKenzie, Scheurich, and Dickerson (2011), the authors investigate the roles of the administrative, political, and professional systems as a school district enacts McKinney-Vento mandates. Findings suggest the following: (1) the complexity of HHM student experiences require more than counting students; (2) districts should consider how HHM students and associated programming fit within the district mission; and, (3) the educational needs of HHM students exceed access to school sites. Based upon these findings, states and districts should track HHM student performance in order to more fully understand the needs of this marginalized population as well as to evaluate initiatives designed to serve these students.

Keywords:

• homeless
• McKinney-Vento
• district
• equity
• access
• educational leadership

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Ronald E. Hallett is an associate professor in the Benerd School of Education at the University of the Pacific. His research focuses on improving educational access and participation for underserved student groups.

Justin Low is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational and School Psychology at University of the Pacific. His research focuses on understanding the developmental interplay of cognition, behavior, and social interactions.

Linda Skrla is a professor and department chair of Educational Administration and Leadership at the University of the Pacific. A former public school teacher and administrator, her research focuses on educational equity issues in school leadership, including accountability policy, high success school districts, and women superintendents.