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                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6218

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Murray, Bailey, Rinehart, Bender, Talmadge, Lee, Bauer, Rasmussen, Fleming and Moore; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Prefiled with Secretary of the Senate 1/5/90.  Read first time 1/8/90 and referred to Committee on   Education.

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 joint efforts by a school district and at least one shelter for homeless families with children.  The grant application shall address the elements of staffing, the transfer of records, transportation, individual student assessment, 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.     The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall monitor the progress of students who participate in the program.  The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the legislature by September 1, 1991, on the effectiveness of keeping homeless students in school and the approaches taken by the grant projects in meeting the needs of the homeless population.

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.