Staffing Interventions to Support Students Experiencing Homelessness: Evidence From New York City

• In Event: Implementing Policies to Address Inequality

Abstract

School staff play an important role in the lives of homeless children. Yet, the quantitative literature on the effectiveness of these individuals remains unexplored. We help fill this gap by examining a school staffing intervention in New York City, which placed either a social worker or service coordinator in schools with high proportions of students experiencing homelessness. Drawing on descriptive and inferential analyses of administrative records, we find that the placement of these additional staff members, particularly social workers, is positively associated with students’ attendance outcomes–particularly for students in shelter. Given the racial disproportionalities in the experience of homelessness, this paper highlights one avenue through which schools could reduce racial inequities.

Authors

• Kaitlyn O'Hagan, New York University

• Zitsi Mirakhur, University of Kentucky

• Kathryn Hill, Research Alliance for New York City Schools