Arizona Has 25,000 Homeless School Children

The Arizona Republic reports that the number of homeless school children in Arizona has exceeded 25,000. That’s an increase of nearly 18% in the past year.

Educators say the increase is due to the soaring rate of unemployment and foreclosures. About two thirds of the state’s homeless students live in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has provided Arizona with $1.9 million to give homeless children as young as preschool age equal access to free public education.

School districts across the state have applied for federal stimulus grants.