San Diego Examiner (California)
May 11, 2011
HEADLINE: Are Homeless and low income children denied Equal Education?

By Ennette Duckett

Are homeless and low income children denied equal education? The current state of the economy has caused increasing hardships on American families. With high unemployment numbers, loss of homes and finances, it has become increasingly difficult for some families to maintain some connection with a sense of "normalcy". Recently, criminal charges were filed against Tanya McDowell, a homeless woman from Bridgeport CT for use of a false address for her son's school residency. If convicted, McDowell could face up to 20 years in prison and a $15,000 fine which would result in separation from her child and further financial hardship. Another case involved Kelley Williams, an Ohio Woman who was also prosecuted for falsifying school records. The cases have prompted conversations about equal education..

California NCLB Law:

In the state of California the No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB) allows parents the choice of "out of area schools" when the school of residence does not meet state standards.

In San Diego 145 schools received Federal Title I funds in 2008-09 as set forth in the NCLB. The district and schools receiving these funds had to ensure that they were meeting the educational needs of low-achieving students in high-poverty schools and working to close the achievement gap between high and low-performing students.

Parents whose children attend Title I schools can request information from their schools about the professional qualifications of their children's classroom teachers, including any paraeducators working in the classrooms with their children. www.sandi.net

The current state of the economy has caused life changing hardships on American families. Suicide, depression, alcoholism, drug use and crime are on the rise in some areas. Prosecution of mothers for attempting to achieve equal education for their children seems trivial in comparison to the larger issues that are impacting American lives.