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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPennsylvania School Tries To Kick Out Two Students After Their Families Became Homeless
Not 'homeless enough'???
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/12/16/3069591/pennsylvania-homeless-students/
Pennsylvania School Tries To Kick Out Two Students After Their Families Became Homeless
By Scott Keyes on December 16, 2013 at 1:35 pm
As if their lives hadnt been thrown into enough turmoil when their house was foreclosed on and their family became homeless, two Pennsylvania students learned last Monday that they were no longer welcome at the school they had attended their entire lives because the campground they were living in was located just outside of town.
The two students, one eighth-grader and one twelfth-grader whose names are withheld because they are minors, have lived in a camper with their parents in eastern Pennsylvania since losing their home to foreclosure in 2011. The campground where they were able to find refuge is located just outside the school districts boundaries.
That shouldnt be a problem under federal law, which allows homeless students to remain enrolled in the school they attend, even if extenuating circumstances forced them to live outside of the limits. Indeed, for more than two years, the two students were allowed to continue their education at the Easton Area School District, giving them stability in an otherwise-tumultuous situation.
However, according to the Education Law Center of Pennsylvania, an education nonprofit that filed a lawsuit on behalf of the students, they were kicked out of school without explanation last week. Easton Schools Solicitor John Freund wrote in an email to The Express-Times that they had made a studied determination that this family, living outside the boundaries of the district, no longer qualified as homeless for the purpose of free public education in Easton.
The matter went to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which issued a preliminary ruling on Thursday to immediately re-enroll the students, pending the outcome of the suit.
Though Easton doesnt believe the students are homeless enough to qualify under federal law, its important to note that most homeless people dont sleep on the streets per se. Few would consider the 24-foot-by-7-foot camper where the four-person family resides to be a permanent housing situation, but thats precisely what school district is arguing.
Because of the courts ruling, the students will be able to continue attending classes at Easton for now but their enrollment status remains in limbo.
Unfortunately, their experience is not atypical. Overall, the number of homeless students in the United States hit a record high during the 2011-12 school year, with more than 1.1 million homeless students enrolled in preschool or K-12, a 10 percent increase from the previous year.
In an effort to address the systemic challenges facing these students, a trio of senators introduced a bill last month to help homeless and foster youth overcome barriers that prevent many from going on to college.
lpbk2713
(42,759 posts)OMFG
kcr
(15,317 posts)argues that a 24X7 foot trailer for four people qualifies as a permanent housing situation?
meow2u3
(24,764 posts)He knows a couple of people sitting on the school board and may well give them a piece of his mind regarding those poor kids being punished for no good reason.
babylonsister
(171,070 posts)Seriously, not a bad idea.
Untenable at any time, but especially Christmastime.
They WANT to go to school; why discourage that?
The whole thing makes me cringe.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)This is just unbelievable!
imthevicar
(811 posts)Pensyltucky!
starroute
(12,977 posts)There are actually a lot of residents who commute to the New York City area. It's just old-fashioned greed. Could happen anywhere.
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)Go ahead, kick them again.
So heartless.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)their jobs, their retirements, while Wall Street prospers. We can not endure eight more years of this and Ms. Clinton will not bring change. Her ties to Wall Street will drive a stake thru the heart of the middle class.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)I suppose the parents will be charged (with whatever parents are charged with if their children are truant/ don't attend school).
We truly have a sick society.
Barack_America
(28,876 posts)The school has received money to educate these kids, and presumably just wants to pocket the money. What? Test scores not up to snuff?
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)Response to babylonsister (Original post)
freshwest This message was self-deleted by its author.
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)You were so young. I am sorry that the school treated you with disrespect when you did nothing wrong. Damn it you were a child as are these two children in Pa.
What are these people thinking? Not homeless enough! Dear Gawd!
I am glad the courts re-enrolled them, at least for now they are safe. I hope the ruling that comes down will be in their favor. What is wrong with us?
fresh~
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Why wouldn't they go to school there?
Although district officials initially told the boys' mother, a district employee, that they could continue to attend school in the district, the family received a letter this fall that they would not be allowed to attend Easton schools and were turned away on Monday.
Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-easton-area-homeless-students-return-20131212,0,135699.story
http://chestnutlakecampgroundpa.com/Site_Map.html
Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)We are homeless. we have lost everything we ever had including our dignity.
We have been going to school and are established - knowing the campus, the faculty and having some friends. Those are the things that give us a sense of normalcy, of personal dignity.
Why would some bureaucratic policy rob us of what little we have? It is the sheer cruelty of America.
America is not a loving and kind country anymore. It is a heartless and ruthless one that is out for "self" first.
I know that is a generalization but I see this more and more. We have lost our way - our morality.
petronius
(26,602 posts)petty robotic rule-following, particularly in trying to kick them out mid-year. The kids have lost enough, why not let them finish up with their friends and give them the best chance of success? And the 12th-grader at least would be graduating this year anyway, right? (Maybe the 8th grader too; we moved to new schools after 8th, but maybe PA is different...)