Multnomah County is right now debating how best to educate homeless children. The choices are stark. Should the county continue to support with tax-payer money a private program that cannot met the educational needs of homeless students or should the county support efforts to integrate homeless kids into public school systems where they can benefit from the full range of education opportunities available.
In The News: Questions raised about educating kids out of the mainstream
Right now Multnomah County is giving over $52,000 a year to the Community Transitional School instead of supporting programs like Project Return, a program that last year worked with over 1,500 homeless students in the Portland Public Schools. Other school districts, like Parkrose, also receive no support from the county. Studies have shown that homeless kids in separate schools like the Community Transitional School fare much worse than homeless kids in public schools. The Community Transitional School does not test their students to determine academic achievement and thus this tax-payer funded program has no accountability for their work.
Background: Multnomah County Should Pull Funding From The Community Transitional School
Tell Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler that you want the county to support efforts like Project Return that integrate students into the public school system and oppose the use of tax-payer funds on programs like the Community Transitional School that are unaccountable. Chair Wheeler needs to know that you believe that homeless children deserve the very best our community has to offer.
And thank Chair Wheeler for his long-term involvement with homeless youth.
Click here to contact Chair Wheeler
Questions? Direct them to The Rev. Chuck Currie at [email protected]
Hear the The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute which started off the debate over how best to serve students:
Disclaimer: Views expressed here are Chuck Currie's and unless otherwise stated do not reflect the opinion of any UCC congregation, related body or any other organization.
