A new collaborative effort between SchoolHouse Connection and the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions has produced interactive data profiles that offer an unprecedented look into child and youth homelessness across the United States. These comprehensive profiles analyze four years of federal data, revealing critical insights into the educational challenges faced by students experiencing housing insecurity.
The interactive dashboard allows users to explore homelessness trends at multiple levels, from national and state perspectives to local communities and specific congressional and legislative districts. By providing granular data, the tool helps stakeholders understand the complex landscape of youth homelessness and its impact on educational outcomes.
Key features of the data profiles include the ability to assess potential under-identification of homeless students and highlight school districts that are severely underfunded in addressing these challenges. The profiles enable direct comparisons between homeless and housed students through critical metrics such as chronic absenteeism and graduation rates.
Barbara Duffield, Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection, emphasized the importance of visibility, stating that child and youth homelessness remains largely invisible in communities and schools. The data profiles aim to illuminate these students' experiences and demonstrate the significant barriers they face in accessing consistent education.
By presenting detailed, accessible data, the profiles provide policymakers, educators, and researchers with a powerful tool to understand and address the systemic challenges surrounding youth homelessness. The comprehensive analysis offers a foundation for targeted interventions and policy development to support some of society's most vulnerable students.
