Massachusetts

"The three-credit class, taught by Salem State adjunct professor Julie Batten, began with eight Lifebridge residents, of whom four including Robinson completed the course. The four were awarded their credits in a ceremony in August. Salem State funded the estimated $20,000 cost of the program, which university officials believe may be the first credit program in the nation to be targeted specifically for homeless people. The university plans to explore with Lifebridge the possibility of offering more courses."

"The Urban College of Boston, a two-year school that educates working women from low-income and immigrant backgrounds, is on the verge of closing amid deep financial troubles and a scuttled alliance with Endicott College."

"Area public school districts will receive $2.5 million in state funds to reimburse them for the cost to transport homeless students who lived in hotels, shelters, and other temporary housing during the last school year."

"Massachusetts school districts may soon be spared the expense of busing thousands of homeless students to class. But a plan for the state to take over the $11.3 million bill means state taxpayers -- rather than individual communities -- would pay the rising costs of the federally mandated program."

"To maintain their numbers, schools will have to recruit high-schoolers who might not otherwise attend college - and that will mean, among other things, reaching out to minority and low-income groups."

"Homeless children are particularly at risk for dropping out of school - and of course this doesn't surprise anyone. The National Coalition for the Homeless reports that 75 percent of homeless youth drop out of school."