Diana said her stability helped her learn English. “Because my English improved here. The teachers helped me a lot here.”
Approximately 1.4 million US students before the K -12 have survived homelessness in the 2022-23 school year, according to recent federal data. The Law on Education defines homelessness as the lack of a “fixed, regular and adequate night residence” – which includes families who live, doubles with others.
McKinney-Vento provides additional assistance through legal protection and a federal grant program to make sure these students receive education.
But since the Trump administration is working to close the US Department of Education, which runs McKini-Foreto, defenders fear that law protection can also be eliminated.
“And if they no longer exist, then it means that we go back to 30 years ago, where the children went to shelters, they disappeared on sofas and cars because they weren’t really in school,” says Barbara Duffind, Executive Director of Schoolhouse Connection, a national non -profit purpose that is advocating for the homeless.
The Trump administration has not said what she plans to do with McKini-Vento if he was able to complete the education department, and the department did not answer NPR questions about its plans for the law and the federal grant program.
This week, a group of domestic Democrats and several Republicans issued a letter calling on their colleagues to support the law and increase federal investments in it.
Trump “Collection” budget proposal Posted earlier this month will consolidate 18 federal educational programs in the block -unit aid, but this does not name these programs. And the White House did not respond to NPR’s request for clarity about whether McKini-oven is one of them.
If so, Duffie said, “This will effectively cancel the program in its entirety, eliminating protection and dedicated funding (for students who are experiencing homelessness).”
Island oasis for families who experience homelessness
Last year, the Congress has allocated $ 129 million for McKinney-Vento grants to help schools cover the support of students who are experiencing homelessness.
The Diana School Quarter, public schools in Middletown, received $ 65,000 in McKini-Fundo funds.
Megan Mainzer is the relationship of McKini-Tentho in the field charged with identifying students who are experiencing homelessness and making sure they receive the resources that are entitled to the law.
She said McKinney-Vento’s money in the area helps to pay for transportation, after school care scholarships, hot spots, gas and groceries for families.
He also helped Mainzer launch and serve as a food closet – in partnership with local Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center – in Middletown High School, where she was present.
It’s called Oasis Island.
The bright blue room next to the high school cafe has a freezer full of frozen meat and seafood, a refrigerator with milk and eggs, closet clamps such as rice and beans and lots of snacks.
“I felt I couldn’t control the problems of the home, but I could control that I could help families compensate for their costs by helping them cover their food bills so that they could invest more for a home,” Mainer said.
This is a resource that John and his 11-year-old son rely on. John asked NPR not to use his full name because of the stigma related to homelessness.
He said that he and his son were living in motels both in Middletown and in Newport, as the pipes burst into their home, making him uninhabited. He did not find an accessible place for them, but the closet and grocery cards he received from Mainzer “made a huge difference,” he said.
“Because hotels are not cheap, so a lot of money goes there,” John said. “And I have something proud, so I have the feeling that I will not reach, but (Mainzer) reaches (ES) to me.”
“All this keeps me at night,” says an administrator
Mainzer is deeply concerned that the law and federal funding, which supports students such as Diana and families like John, are at risk. The loss of McKini-present “would affect our ability to help families,” she said.
She is not the only one who is worried. McKinney-Vento connections and defenders across the country are also worried that if the educational department is eliminated, the law itself can be annulled. Even if the law remains, they are worried about federal funding for it can be shortened.
“It’s horrifying,” said Susie Terry, a homeless educational service coordinator for San Diego County Education. The school districts in its district have identified more than 23,000 students who are experiencing homelessness.
“All this keeps me at night. I think the dismantling of the (educational) department and or dismantling the program – the financing of the program – is probably my biggest concern right now,” she said.
Terry said the areas receiving federal money grants use it to pay for things like transport and to compensate for the salaries of McKinney-Vento’s relationships.
“And that’s not enough (money) from a long shot,” she said, but the money that schools receive is crucial.
Jennifer Cress-Sh-Lif, McKinney-Vento’s relationship for the Cedar Rapids Community school district in Iowa, said the law made a big difference for its students.
“The students we see that they receive homeless designations are already the most vulnerable,” she said. Its area has identified about 430 students who are experiencing homelessness this school year.
She said rights have the right to mean that they have easier access to education.
“And the loss of something from this will lead to a huge change,” explains Cress-spalf. She is worried that not all school districts will continue to provide these defenses in the absence of a federal term.
Without the law and the federal funding for him, “there will be higher percentages of students’ failure,” says Sabri Emde, McKini-Fonto’s relationship with Ardmore Schools in Southern Oklahoma. Its area has identified 166 students who are experiencing homelessness this year.
“There will be higher percentages of students who simply equal have not attended school,” Emde said.
A few scenarios for what follows
Maura McIner, Legal Director at the Center for Education, Non -Profit Profession Organization in Pennsylvania, explains what is set if the education department disappears:
“The dismantling of the Ministry of Education means that we do not have people at the federal level, guaranteeing that children who are experiencing homelessness receive guarantees for (McKinney-Vento).”
If the department remains, but McKinney-Vento’s funding is packed in grant, she said that school districts will be able to spend this money on things that have nothing to do with the service of homeless students.
“It would not come with the requirements that they comply with the laws, they follow McKini-Vento and that it is used for children who experience homelessness,” McInne explained.
Aaron Tang, Professor of Law at the University of California Davis, said he was more concerned that the Trump administration would decide unilaterally to refuse McKini-Fundo’s financing from the countries-capes could have serious consequences for students.
“Every time you raise the program for financing a program, this increases the chances of recipients of the program – the people who need to be served, the children in this case – will not receive the necessary services.”
Meanwhile, nine -grader Diana and her family have recently found a permanent home.
She said she was grateful for the support she received in the last five years by Megan Minezer, her connection McKinney-Vento. Mainzer helped her enroll in high school, associated her with peers, who have since become close friends, provided clothes and delivered groceries to their home and coordinated transport to and from school.
Diana said the impact of these resources is changing life for students like her.
