Homeless Students Grapple With Access To Support

05:45

Updated January 03, 2018

Lee Romney, KALW

Naseem Bennett, 10, finds his name on the wall on his first day of 5th grade at Oakland’s Emerson Elementary School. Naseem and his mom lost their housing in North Oakland last year and he had to commute across three counties so he could maintain some educational stability. It’s his legal right. (Lee Romney)

This article is more than 5 years old.

In the 2015-16 school year, there were more than 1.3 million homeless kids in schools — more than double the number of homeless students nine years earlier. Federal law requires school districts to identify these kids, offer them resources and make it as easy as possible for them to get to school.

But as Lee Romney of member station KALW reports from Oakland, the funding doesn't come close to meeting the needs of homeless students.

This article was originally published on January 02, 2018.

This segment aired on January 2, 2018.

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