Bettering Education for Homeless Students in Maryland
 WestEd's BethAnn Berliner still remembers a conference presentation from several years ago. The presenter commended the work people were doing for homeless children locally, "but she told us that no one knew about it. She asked if someone in the audience would take this on," Berliner recalls. "I raised my hand." The result is Imagine the Possibilities: Sourcebook for Educators Committed to the Educational Success of Students Who Are Homeless. This WestEd publication was the first research-based training manual on the market dedicated to making an impact on the lives of our nation's more than 750,000 homeless students. One example of its impact: Immediately following publication, the sourcebook was used in the resolution of a legal battle in Prince George's County, Maryland. The area's U.S. District Court had ruled that county schools violated homeless students' federally protected education rights. The settlement required the county to provide training for "all relevant school personnel" on the causes and effects of homelessness and the needs of homeless children and youth. To develop the training program, county officials turned to Imagine the Possibilities. Both research-based and practical, the guide includes training activities, classroom strategies and activities, reproducible materials to increase awareness of homeless issues, and sample presentations and workshop agendas. The training derived from Imagine the Possibilities started in Fall 2001 and has already reached "hundreds and hundreds of people," according to Laurie Norris, lead litigator in the case brought against the county's board of education. The settlement requires that training extend to everyone from district-level administrators to front office staff, from teachers to cafeteria workers. "It is definitely having an impact," says Norris. Imagine the Possibilities has been widely distributed by the National Center for Homeless Education and praised by homeless advocates nationwide. |
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Imagine the Possibilities was the first research-based training manual on the market dedicated to making an impact on the lives of our nation's nearly one million homeless students. Contact BethAnn Berliner Related Resources Imagine the Possibilities: Sourcebook for Educators Committed to the Educational Success of Students Experiencing Homelessness Related Programs |