03.16.2014 | Newsday | “Districts face myriad challenges, especially given the budgetary constraints many districts are operating under,” said Jennifer Pringle, project director for New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless students, an agency funded by the state Department of Education that trains school districts to address the needs of homeless students. Pringle said guidance counselors and social workers often are among the first positions cut when budgets get tight. “These staff provide critical social [and] emotional support to all students, including students experiencing homelessness,” she said. The strain on school district resources compounds the traditional problems faced by homeless students, who experts say traditionally fare worse in academic assessments and have lower graduation rates. Read article