MADISON — State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today called on the U.S. Department of Education to reinstate vital funding that supports Wisconsin students experiencing homelessness. Her message follows a new Wisconsin Policy Forum report showing student homelessness has reached an all-time high – with 20,195 students identified as homeless during the 2023-24 school year, a 9.1 percent increase from the previous year.
The surge in student homelessness comes as Wisconsin faces a loss of approximately $500,000 in federal funding used to provide essential support services to students experiencing homelessness.
“Every student deserves more than a desk in a classroom — they deserve the safety of a home and the support to reach their full potential,” Dr. Underly said. “When the federal government withdraws critical support to homeless students during a growing crisis, we’re failing our most vulnerable children. I urge the U.S. Department of Education to approve our extension request so we can continue providing the essential services these students and families rely on — they cannot afford to wait.”
In March, USDE Secretary Linda McMahon informed states that the USDE was revoking previously approved extensions for pandemic-era funding, including an extension that Wisconsin had to provide statewide support to students experiencing homelessness. Students experiencing homelessness are not recovering academically from the pandemic as fast as their peers, according to data, and this funding is an important part of Wisconsin’s plan to address the issue.
The DPI, in partnership with the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, had been leveraging American Rescue Plan – Homeless Children and Youth Administrative Funds to provide wraparound services to homeless students, including case management and family support.
The DPI has formally requested another extension from the USDE but has yet to receive a response. For more information on the impact of federal funding on Wisconsin’s schools and libraries, visit the DPI’s webpage.
