10.18.2021 | NY Post | More than a quarter of city kids living in shelters were absent from school in the first several weeks of the new academic year, according to a new study. 

Advocates for Children of New York found that attendance plunged to just 73 percent, and that absenteeism among homeless students has steadily worsened over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The DOE said Monday that the figure has since ticked up to 78 percent. Attendance for all city students has hovered near 90 percent thus far in the academic year. Citing the dire figures, ACNY has called on the Department of Education to allocate more federal funds to curb the trend. 

“These alarmingly low attendance rates make clear that the DOE’s current shelter-based support system is not sufficient,” said Jennifer Pringle, Director of AFC’s Learners in Temporary Housing Project. “There needs to be dedicated, well-trained staff on the ground in the City’s shelters who can help students reconnect with school and access the educational supports they need to get back on track.” Read article