Number of homeless kids rise as schools are closing

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) voted to close 19 schools on Jan. 27, based on Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s recommendations.

The Panel for Education Policy (PEP) voted to accept the closure of the 19 schools because of poor performance. With the number of schools closing, the number of homeless students is increasing as a result of it.

According to The New York Daily News, “At 19 of the 20 schools that the Education Department announced last month it plans to shut down, the number of homeless kids jumped by more than 100%.” Since the schools are no longer going to be available for kids to have somewhere to go after school hours, principals and social workers are trying to find places for them to go.

Public School 332 in Brooklyn, one of the 19 schools closing, offered their students tutoring and even dinner after school. According to The New York Daily News, “The number of homeless students rose citywide last year, as the economic crisis cloaked the city. But the spike at all but one of the closing schools far exceeded the 20% citywide average.”

Student Affairs Coordinator Stefanie Siegel stated to The New York Daily News, “The school takes on even more of a family role for the child, encouraging them to keep going,” and that, “Academic success can be hard to keep on the front of the table because you’re just trying to keep the students stable.”

“Since 2002, the city has closed 91 schools, including many large high schools, converting them to smaller high schools and charters, with limited public input,” according to The New York Times.

The 13 panel members who decided on the school closures were made up of eight appointees that Mayor Bloomberg chose himself and each borough president appointed one member of their choosing as well.

According to The New York Times, “Nearly every school shutdown was approved on a 9-to-4 vote, with the representative for the Staten Island borough president mostly siding with the mayor’s appointees. None of the schools that will be closed are in Staten Island.”

The 19 schools are scheduled to start closing next fall.