Identifying and Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness

Alexandra E. Pavlakis, J. Kessa Roberts, Meredith P. Richards, Kathryn Hill, and Zitsi Mirakhur (July 2020)

This brief is one in a series aimed at providing K-12 education decision makers and advocates with an evidence base to ground discussions about how to best serve students during and following the novel coronavirus pandemic. Our central question in the brief is: What can schools do to best support students experiencing homelessness, given the added vulnerability they have faced due to the pandemic?

The brief underscores that homelessness is not a uniform experience for students. It highlights the importance of collaboration and data sharing, regular communication with students’ families and other trusted adults, and considering local conditions, available funding, and the realities of student’s home environments when developing plans for school reopening.    

To read this brief, learn more about the EdResearch for Recovery Project, and view the full set of COVID-19 response and recovery topic areas, please visit the Annenberg Institute website.