A T ALE OF T WO S TUDENTS : A NALYSIS OF N EW Y ORK C ITY S CHOOL D ATA & I MPLICATIONS FOR LEA S A ROUND THE C OUNTRY Jennifer Erb-Downward, MPH National.

A TALE OF TWO STUDENTS: ANALYSIS OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL DATA & IMPLICATIONS FOR LEAS AROUND THE COUNTRY

Jennifer Erb-Downward, MPH

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

26th Annual Conference

Kansas City, MO

October 27, 2014

PAIR & SHARE

Turn to the person sitting next to you and discuss:“How does your work involve educational

data (do you collect and report data, do you analyze data, do you use data for policy or advocacy purposes etc.)?

“What sources of information on homeless students exist in your community?”

“What support or resources would you need to be able to use data on homeless students to strengthen your work?”

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness

Independent non-profit research organization Focus on research that will enhance public

policies and programs affecting poor or homeless children and their families

Why were we interested in data on student homelessness in NYC? Homelessness is a children’s issue Homelessness is a local issue Homelessness is more than just a housing issue

PROJECT BACKGROUND CONT’D?

NYS-TEACHS Publically available NYS data online Aggregated by county

Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) NYC DOE data Aggregated by school district or grade

Collaboration with the NYC DOE Individual student data

WHAT DID WE FIND?“A TALE OF TO STUDENTS: HOMELESSNESS IN NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS”

Over 80,000 homeless students in NYC public schools in SY 2012-13.

55% doubled-up 35% in family shelter 10% living in hotels, motels or unsheltered

Close to 60% growth in the last six years

CHALLENGES IN AND OUT OF CLASS

More than 1 in 5 homeless students transferred schools at least once in SY 2011-12.

On average, homeless students missed over a month of school (24 days vs. 16 days for all students).

CHALLENGES IN AND OUT OF CLASS CONT’D

A significant proportion of homeless students in NYC have English language learning needs. The proportion is higher among homeless students than all

students. Greater disparities are seen in the higher grades.

FALLING BEHIND Homeless students enter school at a disadvantage.

Close to 1 in 10 were held back in first grade.

K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 80%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

3.4%

9.2%7.1% 6.2%

3.5% 2.9%

5.5% 5.8%

6.4%

Percent of homeless elementary schools students required to repeat a grade in SY 2011–12 (by grade level)

Grade level

5.4%*

* Average percent of all students citywide held back in grades 1-9. Data exist only for those grades.

FALLING BEHIND CONT’D Homeless students score more poorly on exams.

29% vs. 47% of 3-8th graders were proficient in reading.

41% vs. 60% of 3-8th graders were proficient in math.

Achievement gap grows as children move through middles school.

FALLING BEHIND

Grade retention increases sharply between middle school and high school.

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 120%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

2.9%

5.5%5.8%

6.4%

23.8%

30.2%

11.6%

20.7%

Percent of homeless students required to repeat a grade in SY 2011–12 (by grade level)

Grade Level

* Average percent of all students citywide held back in grades 1-9. Data exist only for those grades.

FALLING BEHIND CONT’D

Graduation outcomes are worse for homeless students.

CHANGING THESE TRENDS Increase understanding that homelessness is a

children’s issue Use this kind of data to raise awareness and identify points

of intervention

Use data to support the expansion of programs that we already know can help homeless children After school programs Early childhood education Summer camp

Transform schools, shelters and other local institutions to meet the needs of homeless children Schools = Community Schools Family shelters = Community Residential Resource Centers

QUESTIONS AND BREAKOUT SESSION

Questions? How does this relate to what you have seen? What is missing or surprising? What other information would be useful? What other questions does this presentation

raise?

Breakout session

DEVELOPING A PLAN: WHO DO YOU NEED TO CONNECT WITH?

Data on Homeless Students in your

Community

Schools

Data Analysts

Advocates

Shelters

Social Service Provider

s

?

??

?

?

???

?

?

?

?

?

BREAK OUT AND REPORT BACK: DEVELOPING A PLAN

What would I like to know and why? How/where could I get data to answer this

question? What skills do I have? What skills do I need? What relationships can I build to access

either skills or data? What resources do I have that would be

useful to others/that can help me to build these relationships?

Once I have the answer to my question, how will I use this information to further my work with homeless students?

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

What will you do when you get to work on Wednesday to turn this plan into action?

Who did you meet today who can help you?Name:Email:Phone number:

Final questions or comments?

Available on the ICPH website:

ICPHusa.org

THANK YOU!

Jennifer Erb-Downward, MPH

Principal Policy Analyst

44 Cooper Square, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10003

[email protected]

www.icphusa.org

(212) 358-8086 x 1213

THANK YOU!

NYC’S HOMELESS POPULATION IN SHELTER

53,910 homeless people living in shelters 11,275 families, including

23,260 children 16,140 adults (parents)

14,510 single individuals and adult families Families make up almost three-quarters

(73%) of the population 80 to 150 families request shelter each day

TYPICAL HOMELESS HOUSEHOLDS

Race/Ethnicity: 58% Black, 37% Hispanic, 5% Other

Age: Most parents (78%) are 21-44 years old 55% of children in shelter are ages 6-17

Family composition: Mother with 1-2 children

NYC’S HOMELESS STUDENT POPULATION

IMPACTS OF HOMELESSNESS ON STUDENTS

Miss more days of school 24 days vs. 16 days for all students

Transfer schools more often 22% of homeless students transfer at least once 18% transfer two or more times

Are held back at higher rates 9% of homeless 1st graders are held back

READING AND MATH OUTCOMES

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION OUTCOMES

SERVICES FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS

After school programs Early childhood education programs Community Schools initiative Community Residential Resource Centers

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Pair & share Presentation of New York City data: A

Tale of Two Students: Homelessness in New York City Public Schools

Questions Break-out session: developing your

plan Report back Next steps