Record number of homeless children in Alabama schools

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Federal statistics show a record number of homeless students in Alabama public schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Al.com reports  that U.S. Department of Education data released Monday show there were 29,749 homeless students enrolled in Alabama preschools and K-12 schools that year. That's an increase of 68 percent over the previous year. The country as a whole reached a new record, but the increase in Alabama's number of homeless students outpaced the national increase of 8 percent. Madeline Daniels of the First Focus Campaign for Children said only New Jersey had a higher percentage increase in homeless student enrollment. She said there are probably several factors causing the large increase, including a variance of reporting standards.