State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Hosts Town Hall 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 convened a town hall today to raise awareness of Assembly Bill (AB) 673 and the critical needs of unaccompanied homeless youth in 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 better support and house unaccompanied homeless youth by helping them remain engaged in school and stay on track to graduate.

“For many young people, school is the only stable place in their lives where they receive meals, support from caring adults, and a sense of normalcy during this period of instability. AB 673 is fundamentally an education bill, justified by clear evidence that housing instability directly undermines school attendance, credit completion, and graduation,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “This bill builds the connective tissue between education and existing housing and social service systems, closing a long-standing gap for unaccompanied 16- and 17-year-olds, and doing so in a fiscally responsible, accountable, and student-centered way.”

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 also encourages partnerships between schools and organizations that specialize in youth services, including nonprofits, housing providers, county agencies, and community organizations.

A recording of the town hall event is available on the California Department of Education’s Facebook page .

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