Hart High Highlights Student Support Efforts
Board hears how the district is helping students facing homelessness, foster care, and academic gaps after the pandemic.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Secondary Education
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William S. Hart Union High School District's Governing Board heard a presentation from Principal John Turner on student support at Hart High School, covering strategies for students experiencing homelessness or living in foster care. The board also unanimously approved adding three books to the 2026-27 curriculum.
Why it matters
Reading comprehension and math data continue to show challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic, with some grade levels having around 50% of students reading below grade level. The school collects this data to understand student needs and respond to them.
Approximately 495 Hart High School students are considered homeless, averaging around 100 per grade level, and two staff members work directly with unhoused students. Most students counted as homeless are doubled up, with multiple families living in one household, though the source does not report outcome data for these students.
The players
William S. Hart Union High School District
A public school district serving communities in and around Santa Clarita, California, overseeing its high schools and junior high schools.
John Turner
Principal of Hart High School, who presented the school's student support and academic data to the board.
The details
Turner presented school data on reading comprehension and math performance to the board. Robert Jensen Jr. made the motion to approve adding 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' 'House Arrest,' and 'Ghost Motion' to the curriculum, which Cherise Moore seconded.
Timeline
Post-COVID-19 pandemic: reading and math challenges observed in school data.
November 4, 2026: Governing Board meeting with the student support presentation.
2026-27 school year: the three approved books take effect in the curriculum.
Policy Context
Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires school districts to identify and support students experiencing homelessness, and Hart High's tracking of doubled-up households reflects that identification duty. The district's dedicated staffing and the post-pandemic academic data show how those obligations are being carried out locally.
Families of students at Hart High who are living in shelters, doubled-up housing, or foster care may see continued staff support through the district's student services. Parents tracking reading progress can ask their school for grade-level assessment results to understand where their child stands.
The takeaway
Schools are tracking student homelessness and academic gaps as a routine part of supporting students. Parents of students facing housing or academic challenges can ask their school directly what supports are available.
Further reading
For more on local school programs, explore Secondary Education coverage in Santa Clarita.
More information
Read the full Hart High School student support report on the district board presentation.
Live Poll
Should your local schools do more to support homeless students?
