Location
Child in Transition/Homeless Project
Anchorage School District - Title I
605 W. Fireweed Lane, Room 131
Anchorage, AK 99503
Contact
Janet Levin, Homeless Education Specialist
Phone: 907/278-4537
Fax: 907/278-4544
E-mail: levin_janet@msmail.asd.k12.ak.us
Description
Success in school can be a challenge for kids from even the best of home circumstances; for students from homeless families, it can be next to impossible. To offer such students a chance for a better future, in 1993 the Anchorage School District designed and implemented the Child In Transition (CIT) program. The mission of the CIT program is to ensure that homeless students stay in school and have access to academic success. The program does this by coordinating necessary supports to get students to school each day, and by offering them consistent after-school assistance to facilitate effective learning.
CIT is staffed by 15 tutors who are generally either certified teachers or college students enrolled in an education program. Their primary duty is to provide targeted students with individualized after-school tutoring four times a week, for two hours each day. To effectively do this they must also work in classrooms and carefully coordinate their efforts with classroom teachers. Tutors work at seven local shelters. While there, they provide enrichment activities, homework and GED support, and referrals to CIT coordinators for advocacy and problem solving (with parents and classroom tutoring).
The program is coordinated by two teachers (one elementary/early childhood, one secondary), a homeless education specialist, and a counselor. The teachers direct the tutors and other activities that pertain to their age specialty. The homeless education specialist is the liaison for community, transportation, and social services. The counselor (a new component to the program this year) serves as liaison between schools, staff, students, and parents. Although each coordinator has their own responsibilities, there is much overlap between all tasks. Key to the success of the program are creativity, flexibility, and ongoing communication between all staff (teachers, tutors, and the homeless education specialist). Similar collaboration within the school system and with community agencies is paramount.
Parents often express surprise that the school district's commitment extends to the shelter's onsite district-staffed program. Parents participate in the early childhood portion of the program by aiding in problem-solving efforts and by assisting in evening tutoring and field trips.
The CIT program, which serves over 1,000 children annually, is funded with federal Title I dollars and other state grants. Children can stay in the program for up to a year.
Observed Outcomes
- Long-term relationships with families are established that continue even when the after-school tutoring component ends
- Awareness has been raised among teachers and has resulted in increased commitment to the CIT mission
- Shelters now see children and their education as an important aspect of their services
Keys to Success
- Provide onsite training and support for tutors throughout the school year
- Maintain ongoing collaboration with community agencies-those that work with homeless families as well as those that do not
- Offer public awareness and education/training opportunities to raise consciousness in the professional and lay communities about homelessness in general and its impact on the education of children and youth
- Ensure that after-school tutoring programs adapt to the culture and environments of shelters (tutors are guests and must accommodate to the shelter structure and needs while maintaining high standards and quality)
- Work to respond to the unique and individual needs of students
- Open and regular communication between program coordinators, school staff, administration, counselors, and nurses is essential
