@techreport{ai26-1519,
  title = {{“Does it fit in a box we can check off?” The interpretive work of identifying doubled-up homeless students}},
  author = {Kathryn Hill and Hope Harvey and Zitsi Mirakhur and Michelle Flores and Xinghua Toby Wu and Paul Trujillo},
  institution = {Annenberg Institute at Brown University},
  type = {EdWorkingPaper},
  number = {26-1519},
  year = {2026},
  month = {July},
  doi = {10.26300/a58j-qg81},
  url = {https://edworkingpapers.com/ai26-1519},
  abstract = {Identifying doubled-up homeless students is crucial to securing their educational rights and understanding the extent of housing insecurity among school-aged children. Drawing on a survey and focus groups conducted with NYC district and school staff, we introduce interpretive work as a central but underexamined feature of the identification process. While the broad and flexible federal definition of “doubling-up” grants staff wide latitude in determining McKinney-Vento eligibility, interpreting which living arrangements qualify requires a deep understanding of the law and of families’ specific circumstances. It also necessitates establishing trust with families so that they feel comfortable disclosing private information. Ultimately, these labor- and knowledge-intensive interpretive processes introduce implementation challenges and place a heavy burden on staff and families.},
}