Homelessness is a serious challenge with several implications faced by many Georgia students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, these students may be experiencing a range of unique housing situations that create insecurity and uncertainty. In Georgia, approximately 2% of students experience homelessness each year, with a far larger number experiencing homelessness at some point in their lives. Compared to their peers not experiencing housing insecurity, these students have lower average test scores and are less likely to graduate from high school.

This research project seeks to provide a clearer picture of P–12 students in metro Atlanta experiencing homelessness and the supports offered to them through local and federal assistance programs and to provide information to districts on how they might focus resources to best support these students.

Tim Sass, Thomas Goldring, and Salma Mohammad Ali will use a mix of descriptive and multivariate regression analyses to explore patterns and associations between students’ experiences of homelessness and the effect of these experiences on a variety of outcomes, including test scores, attendance, discipline, and graduation. We will also conduct a literature review to determine best practices in identifying, tracking, and aiding students who are experiencing homelessness.