Severe Housing Problems is a percentage. Youth disconnection portrays a dynamic between individuals and their context. Current estimates suggest that 1 in 8, or just under half a million, youth are disconnected [1]. Having half a million disconnected youth has vast public health consequences [1]. Disconnected youth are at an increased risk of violent behavior, smoking, alcohol consumption and marijuana use, and may have emotional deficits and less cognitive and academic skill than their peers who are working and/or in school [2, 3, 4, 5]. Studies show that both a lack of educational attainment and unemployment is linked to depression, anxiety and poor physical health [6]. Youth disconnection also has economic implications. The lost revenue and social service investments for disconnected youth (ages 16-24) are estimated to cost taxpayers $93 billion a year and $1.6 trillion over their lifetimes [7]. A measure of disconnected youth provides a valuable lens for viewing several social and economic factors, including: education, employment, income, and family and social support. This measure calls attention to a critical period of transition from adolescence to adulthood, which can support targeted action at the community level. However, a limitation of this measure is that there are varying levels of risk assumed among disconnected youth. For instance, someone that drops out of high school and is incarcerated is considered just as disconnected as someone that has a Bachelor's degree and is taking time off before beginning graduate studies. Severe Housing Problems is a percentage. Severe Housing Problems is the percentage of households with one or more of the following housing problems: Housing unit lacks complete kitchen facilities; Housing unit lacks complete plumbing facilities; Household is severely overcrowded; or Household is severely cost burdened. Incomplete kitchen facilities is defined as a unit which lacks a sink with running water, a range or a refrigerator. Incomplete plumbing facilities is defined as lacking hot and cold piped water, a flush toilet, or a bathtub/shower. Severe overcrowding is defined as more than 1.5 persons per room. Severe cost burden is defined as monthly housing costs (including utilities) that exceed 50% of monthly income. The numerator is the number of households in a county with at least one of the above housing problems and the denominator is the number of total households in a county.

Impact on Learning

Nearly 6 in 10 public school students are suspended or expelled at least once between their 7th and 12th grade school years. Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

Georgia ranks 10th in the nation in the rate of out-of-school suspensions

Over 128,000 students in GA were suspended from school during the 2013- 2014 school year and over 174,000 students were assigned in-school suspension.

Of the 20 high schools in the United States with the highest percentage of students suspended, 6 are in Georgia.

54% of students experienced in-school suspension Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

31% of students experienced out-of-school suspension, which averaged two days per incident Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

15% assigned at least once to disciplinary alternative education programs (27 days, on average) 7th and 11th Grade Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

8 percent were placed at least once in juvenile justice alternative education programs (73 days on average). Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

African-American students and those with particular educational disabilities were disproportionately likely to be removed from the classroom for disciplinary reasons. Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

83% of African-American male students had at least one discretionary violation, compared to 74% for Hispanic male students, and 59% for white male students. Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

70% of African-American female students having at least one discretionary violation, compared to 58% of Hispanic female pupils and 37% of white female pupils. Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

Students who were suspended and/or expelled were more likely to be held back a grade or to drop out than were students not involved in the disciplinary system. Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

Of all students who were suspended or expelled 31 percent repeated their grade at least once. In contrast, only 5 percent of students with no disciplinary involvement were held back. Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

About 10% of students suspended or expelled between 7-12th grade dropped out. About 59% of those students disciplined 11 times or more did not graduate from high school. Breaking School Rules Report, 2011

In 2011-2012, 3.45 million students were suspended out-of-school. Breaking School Rules Report, 2011