Washington, D.C. – March 15, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — 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.
