Figure 1
In Academic Year 2018–19, Education Budgeted Most of the Federal McKinney‑Vento Act Funds It Received for Awards to LEAs
A flowchart that shows that of the $85,000,000 in McKinney-Vento Act funds the federal government awarded to states in academic year 2018-19, it allocated $10,560,000 to California. Of that award, Education budgeted $520,000 for state-level administration of the homeless education program, and budgeted $10,040,000 for local assistance to LEAs and county offices of education. It budgeted $1,350,000 for one-time discretionary grants, and budgeted $8,690,000 for competitive grants. 130 LEAs, or 6% of the approximately 2,300 LEAs in the state, applied for the competitive grant, and 73 of the 130 applicants received an award.
Figure 2
California’s Youth Experiencing Homelessness Are More Likely Than Other Youth to Have Problems That Can Affect Performance Outcomes
Academic Year 2017–18
A bar chart comparing rates of suspension, chronic absenteeism, dropout, and non-graduation for youth experiencing homelessness and those not experiencing homelessness that shows that youth experiencing homelessness have worse performance outcomes than those not experiencing homelessness. In academic year 2017-18, 3 percent of youth not experiencing homelessness were suspended, whereas 6 percent of youth experiencing homelessness were suspended. 11 percent of youth not experiencing homelessness were chronically absent, compared to 23 percent for youth experiencing homelessness. 9 percent of youth not experiencing homelessness dropped out, whereas 18 percent of youth experiencing homelessness dropped out. 16 percent of youth not experiencing homelessness did not graduate, whereas 31 percent of youth experiencing homelessness did not graduate.
Figure 3
Most California Youth Experiencing Homelessness Lived in Shared Housing During Academic Year 2017–18
A pie chart describing the share of California youth experiencing homelessness living in various living situations that shows that most of these youth lived in shared housing during academic year 2017-18. 84 percent of youth experiencing homelessness in California lived in shared housing with others because of loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. 7 percent of these youth lived in shelters, 5 percent lived in hotels or motels, and 4 percent were unsheltered.
Figure 4
Four of the Six LEAs We Visited Did Not Identify Many Economically Disadvantaged Youth as Experiencing Homelessness
A map of the state of California showing the locations of the six LEAs we visited: Gridley, Vallejo, Greenfield, San Bernardino, Birmingham Charter, and Norwalk-La Mirada. Also, a table that shows each of the six LEAs’ total enrollment, number of economically disadvantaged students, number of students identified as experiencing homelessness, and identification rate in academic year 2017-18. In academic year 2017-18, Gridley, which is located in Butte County in northern California, had a total enrollment of 2,246, of which 1,687 were economically disadvantaged and 1 was identified as experiencing homelessness. Its identification rate was 0 percent. Vallejo, which is located in Solano County in the Bay Area, had a total enrollment of 14,224, of which 10,651 were economically disadvantaged and 344 were identified as experiencing homelessness. Its identification rate was 3 percent. Greenfield, which is located in Kern County in the Central Valley, had a total enrollment of 10,631, of which 9,912 were economically disadvantaged and 78 were identified as experiencing homelessness. Its identification rate was 1 percent. San Bernardino, which is located in San Bernardino County in the Inland Empire, had a total enrollment of 57,883, of which 52,390 were economically disadvantaged and 4,971 were identified as experiencing homelessness. Its identification rate was 9 percent. Birmingham Charter, which is located in Los Angeles County, had a total enrollment of 3,318, of which 2,860 were economically disadvantaged and 43 were identified as experiencing homelessness. Its identification rate was 2 percent. Norwalk-La Mirada, which is located in Los Angeles County, had a total enrollment of 19,042, of which 14,316 were economically disadvantaged and 4,174 were identified as experiencing homelessness. Its identification rate was 29 percent.