Dissertation
Principals' stories of serving students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in Pennsylvania: a narrative study
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000432
Abstract
The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act requires that students experiencing homelessness are provided with a free, appropriate public education and requires states and districts to address the barriers and challenges they may experience (42 U.S. C. [section]11431 et seq.). Implementation occurs largely at the state and local levels by state and local actors, including school principals. However, research has shown that principals receive very little professional development on serving students experiencing homelessness and do not understand well what is required by law (Ingram, Bridgeland, Reed, & Atwell, 2016; Waggoner, 2018). This may limit the support students need and are legally entitled to receive. The purpose of this qualitative, narrative study was to explore the stories of Pennsylvania principals in order to better understand the professional development and supports they have received and need to receive in order to appropriately identify and serve students experiencing homelessness. Eleven Pennsylvania principals participated in qualitative interviews. Analysis of the data revealed three themes and eight subthemes. Overall, the principals created their own working definitions of homelessness; received little or no preparation or professional development for serving students experiencing homelessness; and held varied perspectives on their roles with regard to serving students experiencing homelessness. Based on the findings, the researcher offered recommendations for districts, administrator preparation programs, and future researchers. Keywords: McKinney-Vento, students experiencing homelessness, homeless, principals, professional development
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Details
- Title
- Principals' stories of serving students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in Pennsylvania
- Creators
- Alethea Wright
- Contributors
- Deanna Hill (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 99 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991015241981104721