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School Districts Scramble to Help Homeless Students

Schools Must Comply With Law, But Not All Get Money

As job losses and home foreclosures have pushed families into homelessness, school districts are struggling to cope with an increasing number of students with no permanent home.

Reflecting the impact of the recession that officially began in December 2007, half the states collectively reported a 50 percent increase in homeless students by the 2008-09 school year, two Washington-based groups say.

The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth , a membership organization of educators and others, and First Focus , an advocacy group, released the findings in a...