S-4665               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 6218

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Murray, Bailey, Rinehart, Bender, Talmadge, Lee, Bauer, Rasmussen, Fleming and Moore; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction)

Read first time 1/30/90.

AN ACT Relating to homeless education grants; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The schools in our state must recognize and attempt to address the unique educational problems of homeless children.  Every effort must be made to assure that these children are not segregated from the regular school population.  We must assure that every child in this state receives an education and is not denied this opportunity because of the economic problems faced by his or her family.  We have developed programs to meet the needs of migrant children and we must make a similar effort to meet the needs of homeless children.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The homeless education grant program is created within the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Grants shall be awarded to school districts.  The grant application shall include provisions for staffing, the transfer of records, transportation, individual student assessment, cooperation with shelters for homeless children, and individualized instruction or assistance.  Applications shall be submitted to the superintendent of public instruction by June 30, 1990.  Funds shall be awarded no later than August 31, 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     School districts shall monitor the progress of students who participate in the program and report as required by the superintendent of public instruction to the superintendent of public instruction.  The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the legislature by September 1, 1991, on the effectiveness of the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The sum of one million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the funding of the grant projects for homeless students as specified in this act.