Everyone has a role to play when it comes to ensuring all children and youth can access their right to an education – and the keys to a better life. Not sure where you fit in? Start here:

1. LEARN

Familiarize yourself with the issue by reviewing resources around education and youth homelessness. Get started with SchoolHouse Connection’s “issues” page or our SchoolHouse in Session Medium page.

Use this tool (developed in partnership with Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan) to search child and youth homelessness data at the national, state, county, school district, and Congressional levels. 

Educating Students Experiencing Homelessness (5th Ed.) – This revised edition addresses the federal educational mandates related to homeless students under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The manual provides innovative strategies for educators and school administrators, state coordinators and policymakers, and advocates and attorneys to play a role in ensuring the education rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness.

The Homestretch Documentary – The Homestretch follows three homeless teens as they fight to stay in school, graduate, and build a future. Each of these smart, ambitious teenagers – Roque, Kasey and Anthony – will surprise, inspire, and challenge audiences to rethink stereotypes of homelessness as they work to complete their education while facing the trauma of being alone and abandoned at an early age. Through haunting images, intimate scenes, and first-person narratives, these teens take us on their journeys of struggle and triumph. As their stories unfold, the film connects us deeply with larger issues of poverty, race, juvenile justice, immigration, foster care, and LGBTQ rights.

My Own Four Walls – This film, winner of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Media Award (2007), is undoubtedly the most popular training video on homeless students for use in schools nationwide.

Linking Homeless Students to Academic Success – This video, produced by Schoolhouse Link, explains the definition of homelessness and the different living situations faced by children and youth experiencing homelessness.

2. SPREAD THE WORD

Circulate SchoolHouse Connection’s various PSAs within your networks to help raise awareness and connect children and youth to educational rights/resources. This page also includes sample social media language so you can easily amplify them on your social channels.

3. Take Action Around Advocacy

At SchoolHouse Connection, we believe the most effective solutions are informed by those closest to the problem. That’s why we engage educators, advocates, youth, and parents with lived experience in our state and federal policy advocacy. We provide the training and tools to engage public officials in various state legislatures and the U.S. Congress, including by setting up and accompanying you in virtual meetings. Sign up with this form.

You can also learn more and take action to support advocacy efforts via our federal policy page and our state policy page.

4. Donate to SchoolHouse Connection

SchoolHouse Connection is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your contribution is fully tax-deductible. You can choose to donate to all programs or specifically to our Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program, where 100% of the proceeds go to our young scholars. You can also purchase SchoolHouse Connection merchandise including tees, sweatshirts, and hoodies!

5. VOLUNTEER