Liz Owens

Early intervention is the key to keeping kids in school, and the Richmond County School System does that through a multi-tier level of support and services.

While investigating the basic needs of homeless students in Richmond County schools going unfulfilled, the I-TEAM took a closer look at the person in charge of this growing segment of the student body.

Employees within the Richmond County School System tell the I-TEAM say it's chaos behind the scenes when it comes to enrolling homeless and vulnerable students missing permanent addresses and transportation to school.

The I-TEAM uncovered more than 11,000 students were chronically absent from schools across Augusta since the start of the pandemic.

The reporting team uncovered nearly 3,000 students in the Richmond County School System are unaccounted for this school year.

After an I-TEAM investigation and a recent supplemental grant from the state, the Richmond County Board of Education agreed to provide additional funds to address the growing needs among homeless students and the record number of teens missing from the classroom.

After nearly two years of unprecedented losses from lives and jobs to homes and education, the ITEAM found high school students in Augusta are now vanishing from the classrooms in record numbers.

They are the youngest victims of the homeless crisis in Augusta. Young, helpless faces that are tired, weary, and in need of rest, shelter, and food. And in need of an education.