For the first time in half a decade, the county’s annual homeless census showed a decrease in the number of people staying in local shelters and living on the streets. Countywide, there was about a 7 percent decrease in homelessness. That elicited relief from leaders who’ve long grappled with a steady beat of bad news on the front.

Local education officials, on the other hand, were not treated to such good news.

Over the past year, the number of San Diego County students experiencing homelessness has shot up by 1,535 students, according to newly released enrollment data. That’s about a 10 percent increase.

At the same time, budget crises at the city, county and district level – and the expiration of Covid recovery grants – have put funding to help those students at risk. That trend is a

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