Stanislaus County runs backpack drive for homeless kids

Backpacks, donations and basic school supplies for Stanislaus County’s 6,500 homeless children are being collected by the Stanislaus County Office of Education through July 28.

Without even the most basic supplies, students already living difficult lives are put at a further disadvantage. According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, homeless children are eight times more likely to be asked to repeat a grade, three times as likely to be placed in special education classes and twice as likely to score lower on standardized tests.

“Operation Backpack enables us to distribute backpacks to students who wouldn’t have them otherwise,” said Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools Tom Changnon. “We invite the community to support the homeless and low-income children and their families by bringing new backpacks filled with school supplies to one of the four drop-off locations throughout Modesto.”

The locations are Alfred Mathews Buick GMC Cadillac, 3807 McHenry Ave.; Nasco Retail Store, 4825 Stoddard Road; Mocse Credit Union, 1400 J St. or 3600 Coffee Road; and SCOE, 1100 H St. Donations can also be given online.

Operation Backpack seeks to provide a sense of normality and remove one obstacle from homeless students’ lives. With a new backpack and school supplies, students start the school year with tools for success, Changnon’s announcement said.

Filled backpacks for homeless and at-risk children will be distributed in schools via school district homeless liaisons, employees who help homeless youth unstick the red tape that comes with frequent moves. Homeless youth have leeway to stay in a school even if their address shifts, but they still face higher hurdles to get to school on time, get homework done and arrive at school well-rested.

Districts have another incentive to help their homeless students do well starting this school year. How their homeless youth score on state tests will have to be reported under the Every Student Succeeds Act, the new version of No Child Left Behind. By pulling out the scores, advocates hope to raise awareness of their needs and find what works to help at-risk kids succeed.

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Stanislaus County runs backpack drive for homeless kids."