FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A new state law will shine a light on how school districts across Illinois allocate federal Title I funding to support students experiencing homelessness, many of whom currently receive woefully little targeted support.
A recent analysis released by the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness found that many Illinois school districts are severely under-allocating funds for students experiencing homelessness, with one school district allocating just 33 cents per homeless student.
Of the school districts where data was available, one in four allocated less than $10 per homeless student in federal Title I funds over the course of a school year. Half allocated less than $20 per homeless student.
Federal law requires school districts receiving Title I, Part A funding to reserve a portion of funds that is “reasonable and necessary” to ensure students experiencing homelessness can fully participate in school. However, some districts allocate so little that it raises concerns about whether this support is sufficient to achieve that goal.
“I have a hard time imagining that 33 cents, or even $10 is what the average person would consider ‘reasonable’ to support homeless students through an entire school year,” said Nathan Yuan, Parker Research Fellow at the Columbia University Department of Economics and an author of the analysis. “The problem is that even though there is funding available for homeless students, it’s often directed elsewhere.”
Currently, this data is not publicly available, resulting in a lack of transparency about how much funding districts set aside and how it is spent.
House Bill 3377 aims to address this gap in funding by increasing public access to Title I set-aside data. The bill passed unanimously out of the Illinois State Senate on May 22 and will now go to Gov. Pritzker for approval. Once signed into law, this new legislation will help districts make more informed resource allocation decisions and equip advocates with data to highlight where support is falling short.
“No child should be forgotten simply because they don’t have a permanent place to call home,” said House sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha (R-Homer Glen). “Homeless students deserve results. HB3377 demands transparency, tracks every dollar, and makes sure the help promised is the help delivered. It’s a huge win for kids who’ve been overlooked for too long.”
Homeless students face stark educational disparities:
- Fifty-four percent are chronically absent — 20 percentage points higher than other low-income students and more than double the state average.
- They are nearly three times more likely to drop out than the average student and twice as likely as other low-income students.
Title I funds can be used to cover a wide range of resources for homeless students, from uniforms and school supplies, to tutoring and counseling services. For students experiencing homelessness, these supports can make the difference between falling behind and staying on track.
“Across Illinois, students are living in shelters or in over-crowded housing and don’t have access to even the most basic supplies or a quiet place to study,” said Niya K. Kelly, Director of State Legislative Policy, Equity, and Transformation at the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness. “The state of Illinois must provide more oversight to ensure school districts are not ignoring the needs of their students.”
This new law ensures that Illinois moves toward a more equitable and transparent use of federal education dollars, focusing on the students who need the most support.
Contact:
Claire Sloss, Director of Strategic and Policy Communications, CCH
(773) 906-3409
csloss@chicagohomeless.org
