District highlights Atlas program after staff, partners describe support for 5,000 students experiencing homelessness

The San Bernardino City Unified School District on Tuesday spotlighted Atlas, its program for students in foster care and homeless situations, saying the department is focused on removing barriers to attendance and learning.

"As of October 7th, we have identified 5,046 students as living in homeless situations," Angela Ykites, director of specialized programs, told the board during a detailed presentation about Atlas's services and community partnerships. She added that 653 students were enrolled in foster care as of Oct. 17.

The presentation explained how the district identifies students (parent housing questionnaires, self‑identification to site staff, CalPADS/Foster Focus and referrals from partner agencies) and how it uses that information to assign case management, weekly site lists and targeted supports. "Confidentiality is more than just compliance. It is compassion in practice," Vicky Lee, a long‑time homeless liaison, said, explaining why Atlas limits who sees sensitive information.

Why it matters: Students experiencing housing instability or foster care are at higher risk of chronic absenteeism and academic disruption. Atlas staff described a mix of practical supports — transportation, clothing, food, tutoring and on‑site counseling — intended to keep students connected to their school of origin and learning.

Key services and partners - School stability and transportation: The district provides permits to remain in a school of origin and arranges transportation through district routes and a contracted service (HopSkipDrive) when students’ living arrangements cross district lines. Staff said hundreds of school‑of‑origin permits are active and that long commutes—often undertaken by high‑school students who want to graduate with their cohort—are common. - Peer connection programs: Atlas operates student groups (Hearts, Ignite, Elite) at multiple school levels to build relationships and leadership among foster and McKinney‑Vento students. - Community partners and philanthropy: Salvation Army, the Elks Lodge (Antlers youth program), Sierra Health Foundation and other nonprofit partners supply meals, housing referrals, counseling partners and emergency funds. Lee and partner volunteers described local fundraising (holiday meals, gifts and essentials) and volunteer drives that directly benefit families identified by Atlas.

Students and community voice: Representatives from Akoma Unity Center, the Salvation Army, and student participants from the ADAPT teen program also spoke at the meeting. Kendra Calvin of Akoma and several young people described ADAPT’s mix of mental‑health first aid and prevention training; one student said the program taught coping strategies and how to open up to peers.

Board questions and policy issues: Several board members asked how students are designated as foster youth and what supports follow when families avoid court involvement. Staff explained that formal foster‑care classification requires involvement of children and family services and court filings, but the district uses caregiver affidavits and unaccompanied‑youth processes to enroll and serve students when legal custody is not established.

Data and clarifying details - Atlas reported 5,046 students identified as experiencing homelessness (Oct. 7 snapshot) and 653 students identified in foster care (Oct. 17 snapshot). - Atlas said it typically identifies 5,500–6,000 students by the end of a school year. - Akoma Unity Center said its ADAPT program has trained 65 facilitators and reached more than 100 scholars locally; a first cohort received $1,000 stipends (26 graduates, $26,000 total) and current cohorts receive smaller stipends ($775 each) funded by grants.

What the board directed next: Trustees requested follow‑up materials, including counts of Atlas students receiving district transportation and school‑level grade/attendance information for those students. The board also asked staff to gather relevant policies on how the district supports foster and homeless students and to return with recommendations.

The next steps: Atlas staff said they will continue weekly site reporting and strengthen partnerships with county agencies, colleges and nonprofit funders to expand one‑on‑one supports. The board and district leaders framed further work as a mix of pursuing external funding, coordinating across departments and building community partnerships to scale services for students in unstable housing.

Ending: The presentation closed with community partners and alumni noting long‑term impacts—students who used the supports and went on to college—and a pledge from Atlas staff to continue building the district’s capacity to serve its most vulnerable students.