How does homelessness affect a student’s performance in school?
Homelessness has a tremendous effect on a child’s education. Many experts consider education essential in breaking the cycle of poverty, which is why the McKinney-Vento Act was created to mandate equal opportunity to free public education for homeless students. This act is supposed to break down the barriers homeless students have to receiving an education, which include residency restriction, medical record verification, and transportation issues. But beyond these barriers, students are still subject to the stigma of being homeless. Some families don’t report their homelessness because they are embarrassed, while others are unaware of the opportunities legally available to them.
