(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), along with Senators Al Franken
(D-MN) and Mark Begich (D-AK), introduced legislation to ensure that schools
will continue removing the barriers to education caused by homelessness among
children and youth. The Educational Success for Children and Youth Without
Homes Act of 2011 will amend the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless
Children and Youth program to better allow school districts to identify and
address the needs of children and youth affected by homelessness and to bolster
opportunities that help them succeed in school.
“When
children are homeless they face high mobility, high poverty, and difficult
living conditions, and schools offer the structure and normalcy that these
children and youth need to thrive. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to
expand programs to provide children in these challenging situations with the
support they need to stay in school and to succeed,” said Senator Murray. “I
will continue working hard to move this legislation through the Senate because
I believe that children and youth should find comfort in their school and be
able to take pride in their educational successes during this trying time in
their lives.”
This
legislation will promote a stable educational environment by keeping homeless
children and youth in their original schools. The Act will also improve access
to summer school, preschool, before and after school programs, and other
academic opportunities that work to increase academic progress and high school
graduation rates.
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