NEWPORT-While many would define a homeless person as someone living in a cardboard box under a bridge, federal law expands the definition when discussing public school students.

Cocke County Schools District Homeless Liaisons Casey Kelley and Dennis Balch said, "At the end of December, Cocke County had 72 students falling into this category, a number which can change daily. The Department of Education defines such a student as one who has been displaced from his/her original home for a variety of reasons."

"These children are now referred to as children in transition," said Kelley. "Sometimes they are living in motels or with other family members, but not by choice."

These situations, explained Kelley and Balch, often arise when a family loses their home because of economic situations. "We have some cases where three or four family groups are living in the same home, perhaps with grandparents," said Balch. 

For more details, please see the Tuesday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.