Capstones
Graduation Date
Fall 12-13-2025
Grading Professor
Josefa Velasquez
Subject Concentration
Spanish Language
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Abstract
This article documents how housing instability and frequent shelter relocations are disrupting the education of migrant children in New York City public schools. Through in-depth reporting centered on a Venezuelan family living in a Midtown shelter, as well as interviews with teachers, librarians, and advocates, the project demonstrates how frequent moves lead to reduced enrollment, academic delays, and emotional strain among English Language Learners. The reporting presents individual experiences within broader citywide trends, such as declining school enrollment and gaps in mandated services for multilingual students. As schools struggle to provide adequate instruction, public libraries have emerged as one of the few stable, public institutions offering educational and social support to newly arrived families. Together, these findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated housing, education, and language-access policies to ensure equitable learning opportunities for migrant students in New York City.
Recommended Citation
Romero, Adelina, "“Comenzando de nuevo”: Los niños migrantes enfrentan inestabilidad en las escuelas de NYC" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/825
