Gothamist | Advocates worry the problem will worsen after Mayor Eric Adams’ recent decision to limit shelter stays for migrant families to 60 days. The policy shift means children will have to move during the school year, which will likely lengthen their commutes to their current schools, or cause them to switch schools.

“While students who move to a new shelter placement have the right to stay in their original school, we know from our experience working with families that this is often a right in name only,” said Jennifer Pringle of Advocates for Children. “Between delays in arranging busing, a shortage of bus drivers, unreasonably long commute times, and other obstacles, parents often feel they have no choice but to uproot their children from schools they love when they move shelters.” Li atik