Overview
- The analysis, which was released Monday, counted about 154,000 homeless students and found chronic absence reached 63% for children in shelters and roughly half for those doubled up.
- Homeless students posted far lower scores on state tests, with roughly a third proficient in reading or math compared with about 60% of housed peers, and many faced disrupted learning with frequent midyear moves.
- State lawmakers in both chambers proposed adding a homeless-student weight to the school aid formula, with estimates placing New York City’s gain between $93 million and $486 million, but the governor left the change out of her plan.
- City officials pledged action, with Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels vowing to tackle absenteeism and the mayor’s office saying it will expand outreach and improve cross-agency coordination.
- Long commutes and late yellow buses keep many children out of class, as families are often placed far from their schools, and one Bronx mother described months-long waits for a special-education seat and bus service that stalled her job search.