HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2359

BYRepresentatives Valle, Peery, Betrozoff, Holland, Leonard, Rector, Jacobsen, Wineberry, Winsley, Wang, Miller and Van Luven 

Creating the homeless education grant program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (16)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Holland, Horn, Jones, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle and Walker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Fuhrman.

House Staff:Bob Butts (786-7841)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (22)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Peery, Rust, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Ferguson and Nealey.

House Staff:      Janet Peterson (786-7143)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 5, 1990

BACKGROUND:

There is a growing number of homeless families in Washington.  Once homes have been lost, temporary places of residence may include automobiles, shelters, staying with family-friends, or short-term housing.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction's office estimates that between July 1, 1988, and June 30, 1989, 46,000 school aged-children were homeless at one time or another.  The office also estimates that 40 percent (18,400) of these children did not attend school while they were homeless.

Efforts to enroll homeless children in schools may be frustrated by an assortment of barriers, including a lack of transportation to school and the loss or unavailability of prior school and health records.  In addition, the disruption caused by being homeless often may require that parents focus on more pressing needs, and not on their children's education.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Homeless Education Grant Program is created within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Grants shall be awarded to joint efforts of a school district and at least one shelter for homeless families.  Grant applications shall address staffing, transfer of records, transportation, individual student assessment, and individual instruction or assistance. Applications must be submitted by June 30, 1990, and funds must be awarded by OSPI no later than August 31, 1990.  At least five grants shall be awarded.

The OSPI shall monitor the progress of students who participate in the program, and prepare a report to the Legislature by September 1, 1991, on the approaches and effectiveness of the projects funded by the program.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute includes a provision that instructs OSPI to award at least five grants.  Also, the legislative intent is modified to allow districts the ability to have separate homeless facilities for the student's initial entry into the school system.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS (SECOND SUBSTITUTE BILL):  The Legislature intends to assist homeless children in participating in educational programs, but does not intend to establish separate instructional programs other than to facilitate adjustment into a regular classroom setting.

The appropriation to the Superintendent of Public Instruction is deleted.

Appropriation:    (Education Committee) $1,000,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(Appropriations Committee) None.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Education) Connie Iverson and Don Glabe, Tacoma School District; Janet Preston, Ken Watson and Carole Williams, Seattle School District; Perry Keithley, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(Appropriations) Representative Georgette Valle; Bob Schabot, Washington State Parent-Teacher Association; Perry Keithley, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Janet Preston and Carole Williams, Seattle School District; Walter Ball, Association of Washington School Principals; and Dr. William James, University of Washington.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Education) No one.

(Appropriations) No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Education) There is a rapidly growing population of homeless children who are lacking basic needs, e.g. security, food, clothing.  These needs cannot be met in a traditional classroom.  This grant program will allow districts to fund programs designed to get homeless students back in school and to provide these students the support they so desperately need.

(Appropriations) Some very good model programs have been developed to meet the educational needs of homeless children.  These programs have proven to be successful in increasing school participation of the homeless.  Unfortunately, these programs are currently funded with "soft" money.  There is also a need for inservice funding to train regular classroom teachers in working with homeless children.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Education) None.

(Appropriations) None.