ERIC Number: ED503675
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 57
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1097-3125
EISSN: N/A
Educating Homeless Children in Chicago: A Case Study of Children in the Family Regeneration Program
Dworsky, Amy
Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Homeless children tend to experience a variety of academic problems, and little is currently known about this growing segment of the American population. This study was undertaken using administrative data from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and a program that serves many of Chicago's most vulnerable homeless families to examine children's educational experiences. Qualitative data from interviews with key informants were used to help place the findings from the quantitative analysis in context. Conclusions drawn from the analysis of results include: (1) Homeless children experience a considerable amount of school mobility; (2) Many homeless children struggle academically; (3) More than 20 percent of homeless children are identified as having special education needs; and (4) Very few homeless children are able to take advantage of opportunities to attend schools other than neighborhood schools. Results have implications for how public schools and homeless shelters can work together to improve homeless children's educational outcomes. (Contains 32 footnotes, 9 figures, and 36 tables.) [Financial support provided by the Bowman C. Lingle Trust.]
Descriptors: Homeless People, Disadvantaged Youth, Public Schools, Case Studies, Urban Schools, Student Mobility, Interviews, Emergency Shelters, Family Programs, Enrollment, Family Characteristics, Academic Achievement, Elementary School Students, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, High Schools, Institutional Characteristics, Educational Opportunities
Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. 1313 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637. Tel: 773-753-5900; Fax: 773-753-5940; Web site: http://www.chapinhall.org
Publication Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Elementary Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Identifiers - Location: Illinois
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A