Effects of homelessness on students Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Effects of homelessness on students - Essay Example They are most often separated from their families and forced to live with foster parents. Violence within the family leaves them stressed. They lack regular medical care and emotional support. Most homeless children and youth face difficulties in enrolling, attending and succeeding in school and this is precisely what the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act intends to provide. Under the McKinney-Vento program, the State Educational Agencies (SEA) has to ensure that each homeless child or youth has equal access to the same free appropriate education as other children, including a public preschool education (USDoC, 2004). This also provides the homeless students rights to other educational services that would enable them to meet the challenges and achieve the standards like other children. The Act prohibits the school from segregating the homeless student in to a separate school. Transportation to and from school have to be ensured. All decisions have to be taken in the best interest of the child including the choice of school as desired by the parents or the guardian. This Act also provides for obtaining immunization, which is the responsibility of the local liaison appointed by the local educational agencies (LEA) apart from identifying the needs of the homeless. They have to work with the families and make them aware of the rights for their children unde r this Act. The Act also provides the students the rights to continue in the same school where they went before becoming homeless. The students have a right to enroll and attend school without being forced to give a permanent address without complete documents normally required for enrollment. Having homeless students in the class can be challenging and requires patients and creativity in the teachers (Maronek, n.d.). School can provide the stability and help the homeless cope with the situation. After providing the basic needs, the teachers should assess the level of academic ability. They should be