State Superintendent Tony Thurmond to Host Town Hall in Moreno Valley on March 27 to Discuss AB 673 (Jackson) and Critical Needs of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

MORENO VALLEY—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Assemblymember Dr. Corey A. Jackson are convening a town hall to raise awareness of Assembly Bill (AB) 673 and the critical needs of unaccompanied homeless youth in California. The event is scheduled for Friday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Main District Office Board Room of the Moreno Valley Unified School District, 25634Alessandro Boulevard, in Moreno Valley, California.

AB 673, authored by Assemblymember Jackson and sponsored by Superintendent Thurmond, would fund housing for homeless students through the creation of the Unaccompanied Youth Support Grant Program, a pilot initiative to help local educational agencies (LEAs) better support and house unaccompanied homeless youth by helping them remain engaged in school and stay on track to graduate.

“Every student in California deserves the opportunity to focus on learning, growing, and preparing for their future, not worrying about where they will sleep at night,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “Through this program, school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools would be able to apply for grants to provide targeted supports for unaccompanied youth ages sixteen and seventeen. Stabilizing a student’s life outside the classroom is often essential to helping them succeed. These students are not someone else’s responsibility; they are our students. When one of our students is struggling, it is our collective responsibility to step forward and help.”

In addition to funding housing for homeless teens, program supports could include helping students connect with housing resources and community partners; providing basic needs like clothing, food, and transportation; offering tutoring and academic support; helping students build employment and independent living skills; and connecting youth to health and behavioral health services. The bill encourages partnerships between schools and organizations that specialize in youth services, including nonprofits, housing providers, county agencies, and community organizations.

To RSVP for the event, please email the California Department of Education Government Affairs Division at GAD@cde.ca.gov.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100