Tennessee has 74 percent increase in homeless students

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Associated Press

Story Created: Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:17 AM

Story Updated: Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:20 AM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee saw the number of homeless public school students increase by 74 percent between 2007 and 2010.
   
That number was well above the national average of 38 percent, but the true number may be even higher.
   
According to a report from the state Comptroller's office, several neighboring states have a larger percentage of homeless students. That could be a clue that Tennessee's numbers are an undercount.
   
Also, some districts in Tennessee with high foreclosure and jobless rates did not identify any homeless students.
   
The comptroller's report says the dramatic increases in Tennessee - from 6,565 in 2007 to 11,458 in 2010 - may be a consequence of job losses and the economy. They may also be the result of some school districts' improved efforts to identify homeless students.

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