A couple of key health and welfare issues involving students were addressed in recent days, and both initiatives bode well for helping improve the lives of some of our most challenged young people.

On Thursday, February 9, following Governor Ned Lamont’s proposed biennial state budget, the General Assembly issued an emergency certification on two critical pieces of legislation: extending the state’s free lunch program for all students for the rest of the school year and adjusting the excess cost-sharing grant.

Subira Gordon, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), touted the passage, noting it will benefit all Connecticut students’ health — both mentally and physically. We heartily agree that by extending the free lunch program, our state leaders have helped lighten the load for so many parents.

Last week the State Department of Education also stepped up on behalf of students experiencing homelessness and housing instability with the launch of a communication and outreach campaign dubbed “No Matter What.” The department reported that 3,979 students experienced homelessness throughout the 2021-22 school year, defining homelessness as “children and youth who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence,” including students who are “doubled-up” and living with friends or extended family, in a shelter, in a motel/hotel, or in a car, park or other unsheltered location, according to a recent CT Mirror report.

The latest effort is focused on highlighting the education rights of all students, regardless of housing status in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. That legislation guarantees support for students experiencing homelessness so they can continue attending school with the tools they need to succeed.

Every Connecticut school district has a liaison dedicated to assisting students who may be facing challenges to safe, stable housing and living situations, but not all students reach out for help.

The “No Matter What” campaign recognizes that housing instability and homelessness can cause many struggles for children and teens, especially in school. Because students and families may not want to share information about such difficult situations, school staff members can play an important role in helping to identify and support students who may be experiencing homelessness.

Students, parents, and caregivers should know that information shared about experiencing homelessness is confidential. School staff members are not permitted to disclose information about a student’s living situation to anyone other than the liaison, other school administrators, and/or school staff only as needed.

We think Louis Tallarita, Connecticut’s McKinney-Vento state coordinator said it best: Recognizing when a student is experiencing challenges is a cornerstone of effective education. And by making community members and school staff more aware of this rapidly growing issue, necessary assistance can be employed with the hope of helping more students both enroll and stay in school, no matter what.

Bringing the subject full circle, it is reassuring to know that The McKinney-Vento Act ensures that students can go to school no matter where they are currently staying or how long they have lived there; they can choose to attend their current school or enroll immediately in the local school where they are staying; access the same programs and services available to all students, including transportation and supplemental educational services; and receive school meals at no cost.

We applaud lawmakers and state education officials for recognizing and addressing both hunger and homelessness, arguably among populations that can be most significantly impacted — not just today, but in too many cases, for the rest of their lives.