You might call them the invisible 600. That's the estimated number of children in Allegheny County without permanent housing, about half of whom are school-aged.

To call them "homeless" might suggest that they live under bridges or in abandoned houses. While that is not the case, their daily situation still poses challenges, even for something as basic as how to get an education. The 600 generally live in one of 17 women's shelters, where their mothers have gone for protection and support after suffering domestic abuse.

Local experts say that perhaps an equal number of children live by "couch surfing," moving from home to home of relatives and friends because their parents cannot find an affordable, permanent living arrangement. While these children face similar obstacles to getting an education, they are harder to track and identify.

The problem, of course, is not unique to Allegheny County. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that in the 2007-08 school year more than 794,000 homeless children were enrolled in public schools. You can call them the "lucky" ones. Those who are not so lucky are the ones whose lack of permanent housing conspires to keep them out of the classroom.

Fortunately, some concerned and determined people will take a major step today toward addressing the issue locally by holding a summit on the educational needs of homeless children. The idea was spearheaded by Joseph Lagana, who founded the nonprofit Homeless Children's Education Fund 10 years ago after retiring as executive director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

He and allies at the summit like The Pittsburgh Foundation, the county Department of Human Services, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, the state education department, Duquesne University, the Education Law Center and the intermediate unit will seek to exchange information, raise awareness and coordinate school and social services that can extend to homeless children the same educational opportunities given their peers.

This is important work and the group's success will accrue to the families and society alike. After all, every child deserves an education, even those who are still looking for a place called home.

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