“Every time a student moves schools they lose 4 to 6 months of academic learning.”
For many kids, staying focused on the school work they need to do is enough of a challenge. Add in the uncertainty and stress that can come when you don’t know if you’ll have a roof to sleep under.
As APM Reports, millions of children in the United States have unstable housing, and a growing body of research finds that repeatedly uprooted children are more likely to struggle in school and more likely to drop out. But there are ways to help them succeed.
APM Reports did a documentary focused on two groups of kids who often change addresses — homeless kids and children of migrant farmworkers — and explored efforts to help these students do well in school.
Alexandra Pavlakis, who has done several studies on student homelessness and poverty, was interviewed for the piece. Pavlakis is an Assistant Professor in Education Policy and Leadership at SMU’s Simmons School of Education & Human Development.
Go here to listen to APM Reports’ piece on “Students on the Move: Keeping uprooted kids in school.”
About SMU
SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in seven degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world.