Bill > SB214

This bill creates a new position of homeless education coordinator in counties designated by the state board as urban or rural counties. The coordinator will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties aimed at supporting homeless children and youth in the education system. Specifically, the coordinator will work to identify homeless children, ensure they are enrolled in school, and have equal opportunities to succeed academically. Their responsibilities include coordinating referrals to health and support services, expediting school placements, preventing service duplication, monitoring compliance with the McKinney-Vento Act (a federal law supporting education for homeless children), informing parents and guardians about educational opportunities, and ensuring transportation services are available. The coordinator will also develop training programs for school personnel about the rights and needs of homeless children, assist unaccompanied homeless youth in school selection, and help mediate any enrollment disputes. The bill specifies that urban counties will have a full-time coordinator, while rural counties will have a part-time coordinator, with urban and rural designations based on Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) classifications. The state board will establish qualifications for these coordinators and oversee their implementation.