HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6057

BYSenators Murray, Bender, Warnke, Owen, McMullen, Williams, Smitherman, Kreidler, Sutherland, Talmadge, Niemi, Fleming, Moore, Lee, Vognild, Rasmussen, Conner, Stratton, Bailey, Gaspard, Hansen, Wojahn, Bauer, Madsen, Metcalf, Rinehart and Johnson

Providing for school services for homeless children.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Cole, Dorn, Jones, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon and Valle.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Fuhrman, Horn, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 11, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Homelessness can pose a problem for a child's education.  One barrier to homeless children attending school is the residency requirement imposed by some local school districts.  While some families can list a shelter as a residence, a survey indicates that only 45 percent of the state's homeless were able to find places in a shelter last year.

SUMMARY:

When a child does not have a legal residence, school districts shall not require proof of residence or any other information regarding address for any child who is eligible by reason of age for the services of a school district.  In these circumstances the school district shall enroll the child at the request of the child, parent or guardian.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Patty Murry; Dorothy Roberts, Helping Hands; and Tony Lee, Washington Association of Churches.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    School districts have adopted a variety of policies to determine residency for the purposes of enrolling in school.  In many districts a student may not be enrolled unless there is evidence of a permanent residence.  For homeless children or children living in shelters there is no address.  In some cases districts have allowed the address of the shelter to be used.  However, many of the homeless they may not find space in a shelter and may be living on the street or in a car.  The request of the child, parent or guardian should be sufficient to enroll a child in school so long as the student qualifies on the basis of age.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.