State Superintendent Tony Thurmond to Host Homeless Education Summit to Reduce Student Homelessness on November 9

DOWNEY—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond will host a homeless education summit to address homelessness among children and mitigate educational impacts caused by homelessness amid the ongoing housing crisis in California. This summit will bring together educators; city, county, and state officials; advocates; liaisons; service providers; and other key partners to develop cohesive statewide solutions to reduce student homelessness.

The summit is scheduled on Thursday, November 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Los Angeles County Office of Education, 12830 Columbia Way in Downey. Immediately before the summit, Superintendent Thurmond will host a press event about homeless students at 9:30 a.m. at the same location. The press event will feature Superintendent Thurmond, who will be available for questions, and Holly Mitchell, Supervisor, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Second District; Miguel Santana, President and CEO, California Community Foundation; and Lindsey P. Horvath, Supervisor, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Third District. All media outlets are encouraged to attend.

“Homelessness among children is not just a social issue; it’s an educational crisis that we must address with urgency. This summit represents a pivotal moment in our commitment to the future of California’s students. It is essential because being homeless jeopardizes children with a lack of stability, security, and opportunity to learn and succeed,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “With the ongoing housing crisis, we have a moral obligation to act. This summit will unite a diversity of interests to craft comprehensive statewide solutions aimed at reducing student homelessness and ensuring that every child in California has the chance to thrive and reach their full potential.”

Participants in the summit will brainstorm ideas for future legislation to reduce homelessness and strategies to secure stable housing for students and their families while increasing educational resources for students who are experiencing homelessness statewide.

Speakers at the summit event include Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools; Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District; and Jevon Wilkes, Executive Director, California Coalition for Youth. Panelists include Charles Evans, Executive Director, School on Wheels; Barbara Duffield, SchoolHouse Connection; Jane Schroeder, Chief Policy and Strategy Officer, First Place For Youth; Debbie Raucher, Project Director, John Burton Advocates for Youth; Nancy Gutierrez, Coordinator, Parent and Community Engagement, Foster and Homeless Liaison; and Lucy, a student representing the San Bernardino County Office of Education.

Please register for the Building a Better Future for California Students Experiencing Homelessness Summit via Zoom .

You can also view a livestream of the event on the California Department of Education (CDE) Facebook page .

If you have any questions or want to share best practices, please email the CDE Homeless Education Team at HomelessEd@cde.ca.gov.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100