Unhoused children/education

AN ACT Relating to ensuring that unhoused children and youths in 1
Washington have equal access to the same free, appropriate public 2
education that is provided to other children and youths; adding a new 3
chapter to Title 28A RCW; and creating a new section.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
STATE POLICY6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 101. It shall be the policy of the state of 7
Washington that:8
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall 9
ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless 10
youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public 11
education, including a public preschool education for qualifying 12
children, as provided to other children and youths;13
(2) When requirements of law, practice, or policy, including 14
compulsory residency requirements, create barriers to the 15
identification of or to the enrollment, attendance, or success in 16
school of homeless children and youths, the office of the 17
superintendent of public instruction and school districts must review 18
and undertake steps to revise such laws, regulations, practices, or 19
policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the 20
H-2651.2
HOUSE BILL 2594
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Reeves, McEntire, Leavitt, Pollet, and Scott
Read first time 01/20/26. Referred to Committee on Education.
p. 1 HB 2594
same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children 1
and youths; 2
(3) Homelessness is not sufficient reason to separate students 3
from the mainstream school environment; and 4
(4) Homeless children and youths should have access to the 5
education and other services that such children and youths need to 6
ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the 7
same challenging state academic standards to which all students are 8
held. 9
DEFINITIONS10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 201. The definitions in this section apply 11
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires 12
otherwise.13
(1) "Enroll" and "enrollment" include attending classes and 14
participating fully in school activities. 15
(2) "Homeless children and youths" means individuals who lack a 16
fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes:17
(a) Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other 18
persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar 19
reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping 20
grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are 21
living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in 22
hospitals; 23
(b) Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence 24
that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used 25
as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;26
(c) Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public 27
spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train 28
stations, or similar settings; and 29
(d) Migratory children, as such term is defined in 20 U.S.C. Sec. 30
6399, who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this chapter or 31
under applicable federal law, because the children are living in 32
circumstances described in (a) through (c) of this subsection.33
(3) "School of origin" means the school that a child or youth 34
attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or 35
youth was last enrolled, including a preschool. When the child or 36
youth completes the final grade level served by the school of origin, 37
p. 2 HB 2594
the term "school of origin" includes the designated receiving school 1
at the next grade level for all feeder schools. 2
(4) "Unaccompanied youth" includes a homeless child or youth not 3
in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. 4
STATE PLAN FOR THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 301. (1) The superintendent of public 6
instruction shall submit to the legislature a plan to provide for the 7
education of homeless children and youths within the state. Such plan 8
must include the following:9
(a) A description of how homeless children and youths are, or 10
will be, given the opportunity to meet the same challenging state 11
academic standards as all students are expected to meet;12
(b) A description of the procedures the office of the 13
superintendent of public instruction will use to identify homeless 14
children and youths in the state and to assess their needs;15
(c) A description of procedures for the prompt resolution of 16
disputes regarding the educational placement of homeless children and 17
youths; 18
(d) A description of programs for school personnel, including 19
school district liaisons designated under (j)(ii) of this subsection, 20
principals and other school leaders, attendance officers, teachers, 21
enrollment personnel, and specialized instructional support 22
personnel, to heighten the awareness of such school personnel of the 23
specific needs of homeless children and youths, including such 24
children and youths who are runaway and homeless youths;25
(e) A description of procedures that ensure that homeless 26
children and youths who meet the relevant eligibility criteria are 27
able to participate in federal, state, or local nutrition programs;28
(f) A description of procedures that ensure that:29
(i) Homeless children and youths who meet the relevant 30
eligibility criteria have access to public preschool programs 31
administered by school districts to the same extent as other 32
children; 33
(ii) Homeless children and youths, and youths separated from 34
public schools, are identified and accorded equal access to 35
appropriate secondary education and support services, including by 36
identifying and removing barriers that prevent youths described in 37
this subsection from receiving appropriate credit for full or partial 38
p. 3 HB 2594
coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school, 1
in accordance with state, local, and school policies; and2
(iii) Homeless children and youths who meet the relevant 3
eligibility criteria do not face barriers to accessing academic and 4
extracurricular activities, including magnet school, summer school, 5
career and technical education, advanced placement, alternative 6
learning experience courses, and charter school programs, if such 7
programs are available at the local levels; 8
(g) Strategies to address problems identified in the report 9
provided to the secretary of the United States department of 10
education under section 601(2)(c) of this act, if applicable;11
(h) Strategies to address other problems with respect to the 12
education of homeless children and youths, including problems 13
resulting from enrollment delays that are caused by:14
(i) Requirements of immunization and other required health 15
records; 16
(ii) Residency requirements; 17
(iii) Lack of birth certificates, school records, or other 18
documentation; 19
(iv) Guardianship issues; or 20
(v) Uniform or dress code requirements; 21
(i) A demonstration that the office of the superintendent of 22
public instruction and all school districts have developed, and shall 23
review and revise, policies to remove barriers to the identification 24
of homeless children and youths, and the enrollment and retention of 25
homeless children and youths in schools in the state, including 26
barriers to enrollment and retention due to outstanding fees or 27
fines, or absences, if applicable; 28
(j) Assurances that the following will be carried out:29
(i) The office of the superintendent of public instruction and 30
all school districts will adopt policies and practices to ensure that 31
homeless children and youths are not stigmatized or segregated on the 32
basis of their status as homeless; 33
(ii) All school districts will designate an appropriate staff 34
person, able to carry out the duties described in section 501 of this 35
act, who may also be a coordinator for other federal programs, as a 36
school district liaison for homeless children and youths;37
(iii) The office of the superintendent of public instruction and 38
all school districts will adopt policies and practices to ensure that 39
transportation is provided, at the request of the parent or guardian, 40
p. 4 HB 2594
or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the school district 1
liaison, to and from the school of origin, as determined in 2
accordance with section 401 of this act, and in accordance with the 3
following, as applicable: 4
(A) If the homeless child or youth continues to live in the area 5
served by the school district in which the school of origin is 6
located, the homeless child's or youth's transportation to and from 7
the school of origin must be provided or arranged by the school 8
district in which the school of origin is located; and9
(B) If the homeless child's or youth's living arrangements in the 10
area served by the school district of origin terminate and the 11
homeless child or youth, though continuing the homeless child's or 12
youth's education in the school of origin, begins living in an area 13
served by another school district, the school district of origin and 14
the school district in which the homeless child or youth is living 15
shall agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs 16
for providing the homeless child or youth with transportation to and 17
from the school of origin. If the school districts are unable to 18
agree upon such method, the responsibility and costs for 19
transportation must be shared equally; and 20
(iv) The office of the superintendent of public instruction and 21
all school districts will adopt policies and practices to ensure 22
participation by local liaisons in professional development and other 23
technical assistance activities provided pursuant to section 601 (2) 24
(e) and (f) of this act, as determined appropriate by the office of 25
the coordinator for education of homeless children and youths 26
established in section 601 of this act; and 27
(k) A description of how homeless youths will receive assistance 28
from counselors to advise such youths and prepare and improve the 29
readiness of such youths for college. 30
(2) The plan adopted under this section must also: Describe how 31
the state will ensure that school districts will comply with the 32
requirements of section 401 of this act, and indicate what technical 33
assistance the state will furnish to school districts and how 34
compliance efforts will be coordinated with the school district 35
liaisons designated under subsection (1)(j)(ii) of this section.36
DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS37
p. 5 HB 2594
NEW SECTION. Sec. 401. (1) The school district serving each 1
homeless child or youth to be assisted under this chapter shall, 2
according to the homeless child's or youth's best interest:3
(a) Continue the homeless child's or youth's education in the 4
school of origin for the duration of homelessness: 5
(i) In any case in which a family becomes homeless between school 6
years or during school year; and 7
(ii) For the remainder of the academic year, if the homeless 8
child or youth becomes permanently housed during a school year; or9
(b) Enroll the homeless child or youth in any public school that 10
nonhomeless students who live in the attendance area in which the 11
homeless child or youth is actually living are eligible to attend, 12
and provide the homeless child's or youth's academic records to the 13
school in which the homeless child or youth is enrolling.14
(2) In determining the best interest of the homeless child or 15
youth under subsection (1) of this section, the school district 16
shall: 17
(a) Presume that keeping the homeless child or youth in the 18
school of origin is in the homeless child's or youth's best interest, 19
except when doing so is contrary to the request of the homeless 20
child's or youth's parent or guardian, or, in the case of an 21
unaccompanied youth, the youth; 22
(b) Consider student-centered factors related to the homeless 23
child's or youth's best interest, including factors related to the 24
impact of mobility on achievement, education, health, and safety of 25
homeless children and youth, giving priority to the request of the 26
homeless child's or youth's parent or guardian or, in the case of an 27
unaccompanied youth, the youth; 28
(c) If, after conducting the best interest determination based on 29
consideration of the presumption in (a) of this subsection (2) and 30
the student-centered factors in (b) of this subsection (2), the 31
school district determines that it is not in the homeless child's or 32
youth's best interest to attend the school of origin or the school 33
requested by the parent or guardian, or, in the case of an 34
unaccompanied youth, the youth, provide the homeless child's or 35
youth's parent or guardian or the unaccompanied youth with a written 36
explanation of the reasons for its determination, in a manner and 37
form understandable to such parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth, 38
including information regarding the right to appeal under subsection 39
(5) of this section; and 40
p. 6 HB 2594
(d) In the case of an unaccompanied youth, ensure that the school 1
district liaison designated under section 301 (1)(j)(ii) of this act 2
assists in placement or enrollment decisions under this subsection, 3
gives priority to the views of such unaccompanied youth, and provides 4
notice to such youth of the right to appeal under subsection (5) of 5
this section. 6
(3)(a) The school selected in accordance with subsection (2) of 7
this section shall immediately enroll the homeless child or youth, 8
even if the homeless child or youth: 9
(i) Is unable to produce records normally required under RCW 10
28A.225.330 for enrollment, such as previous academic records, 11
records of immunization and other required health records, proof of 12
residency, or other documentation; or 13
(ii) Has missed application or enrollment deadlines during any 14
period of homelessness. 15
(b) The enrolling school shall immediately contact the school 16
last attended by the homeless child or youth to obtain relevant 17
academic and other records. 18
(c) If the homeless child or youth needs to obtain immunizations 19
or other required health records, the enrolling school shall 20
immediately refer the parent or guardian of the homeless child or 21
youth, or, in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the youth, to the 22
school district liaison designated under section 301 (1)(j)(ii) of 23
this act, who shall assist in obtaining necessary immunizations or 24
screenings, or immunization or other required health records, in 25
accordance with subsection (4) of this section. 26
(4) Any record ordinarily kept by the school, including 27
immunization or other required health records, academic records, 28
birth certificates, guardianship records, and evaluations for special 29
services or programs, regarding each homeless child or youth must be 30
maintained so that the records involved are available, in a timely 31
fashion, when a homeless child or youth enters a new school or school 32
district. 33
(5) If a dispute arises over eligibility, or school selection or 34
enrollment in a school: 35
(a) The homeless child or youth must be immediately enrolled in 36
the school in which enrollment is sought, pending final resolution of 37
the dispute, including all available appeals; 38
(b) The parent or guardian of the homeless child or youth or, in 39
the case of an unaccompanied youth, the youth must be provided with a 40
p. 7 HB 2594
written explanation of any decisions related to school selection or 1
enrollment made by the school, the school district, or the office of 2
the superintendent of public instruction, including the rights of the 3
parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth to appeal such decisions;4
(c) The parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth must be referred 5
to the school district liaison designated under section 301 (1)(j)(ii) 6
of this act, who shall carry out the dispute resolution process as 7
described in section 301 (1)(c) as expeditiously as possible after 8
receiving notice of the dispute; and 9
(d) In the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison shall 10
ensure that the youth is immediately enrolled in the school in which 11
the youth seeks enrollment pending resolution of such dispute.12
(6) The choice regarding placement must be made regardless of 13
whether the homeless child or youth lives with the homeless parents 14
or has been temporarily placed elsewhere. 15
(7) Information about a homeless child's or youth's living 16
situation must be treated as a student education record, and may not 17
be deemed to be directory information, under 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g.18
(8) Nothing in this section prohibits a school district from 19
requiring a parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth to submit 20
contact information. 21
NEW SECTION. Sec. 402. (1) Each homeless child or youth to be 22
assisted under this chapter must be provided services comparable to 23
services offered to other students in the school selected under 24
section 401(1) of this act, including the following:25
(a) Transportation services; 26
(b) Educational services for which the homeless child or youth 27
meets the eligibility criteria, such as services provided under Title 28
I of the elementary and secondary education act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 29
6301 et seq.) or similar state or local programs, educational 30
programs for children with disabilities, and educational programs for 31
English learners; 32
(c) Programs in career and technical education;33
(d) Programs for highly capable students; and 34
(e) School nutrition programs. 35
(2) Each school district serving homeless children and youths 36
that receives funding provided by specific reference for this chapter 37
in the omnibus appropriations act shall coordinate:38
p. 8 HB 2594
(a) The provision of services under this chapter with local 1
social services agencies and other agencies or entities providing 2
services to homeless children and youths and their families, 3
including services and programs funded under the runaway and homeless 4
youth act, 42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.; and 5
(b) Transportation, transfer of school records, and other 6
interdistrict activities, with other school districts.7
(3) If applicable, each school district that receives funding for 8
implementing this chapter shall coordinate with state and local 9
housing agencies responsible for developing the comprehensive housing 10
affordability strategy described in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12705 to minimize 11
educational disruption for children and youths who become homeless.12
(4) The coordination required under subsections (2) and (3) of 13
this section must be designed to: 14
(a) Ensure that all homeless children and youths are promptly 15
identified; 16
(b) Ensure that all homeless children and youths have access to, 17
and are in reasonable proximity to, available education and related 18
support services; and 19
(c) Raise the awareness of school personnel and service providers 20
of the effects of short-term stays in a shelter and other challenges 21
associated with homelessness. 22
(5) For homeless children and youths who are to be assisted both 23
under this chapter and under the individuals with disabilities 24
education act, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq. or 29 U.S.C. Sec. 794, each 25
school district shall coordinate the provision of services under this 26
chapter with the provision of programs for children with disabilities 27
served by that school district and other involved school districts.28
SCHOOL DISTRICT LIAISONS29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 501. (1) Each school district liaison for 30
homeless children and youths, designated under section 301 (1)(j)(ii) 31
of this act, shall ensure that:32
(a) Homeless children and youths are identified by school 33
personnel through outreach and coordination activities with other 34
entities and agencies; 35
(b) Homeless children and youths are enrolled in, and have a full 36
and equal opportunity to succeed in, schools of that school district;37
p. 9 HB 2594
(c) Homeless families and homeless children and youths have 1
access to and receive educational services for which such families, 2
children, and youths are eligible, including services through head 3
start programs, including early head start programs under the head 4
start act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9831 et seq., early intervention services 5
under Part C of the individuals with disabilities education act, 20 6
U.S.C. Sec. 1431 et seq., and other preschool programs administered 7
by the school district; 8
(d) Homeless families and homeless children and youths receive 9
referrals to health care services, dental services, mental health and 10
substance abuse services, housing services, and other appropriate 11
services; 12
(e) The parents or guardians of homeless children and youths are 13
informed of the educational and related opportunities available to 14
their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to 15
participate in the education of their children; 16
(f) Public notice of the educational rights of homeless children 17
and youths is disseminated in locations frequented by parents or 18
guardians of such children and youths, and unaccompanied youths, 19
including schools, shelters, public libraries, and soup kitchens, in 20
a manner and form understandable to the parents and guardians of 21
homeless children and youths, and unaccompanied youths;22
(g) Enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance with section 23
401(5) of this act; 24
(h) The parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth, and any 25
unaccompanied youth, is fully informed of all transportation 26
services, including transportation to the school of origin, as 27
described in section 301 (1)(j)(iii) of this act, and is assisted in 28
accessing transportation to the school that is selected under section 29
401(1) of this act; 30
(i) School personnel providing services under this chapter 31
receive professional development and other support; and32
(j) Unaccompanied youths: 33
(i) Are enrolled in school; 34
(ii) Have opportunities to meet the same challenging state 35
academic standards as the state establishes for other children and 36
youth, including through implementation of the procedures under 37
section 301(1)(f)(ii) of this act; and 38
(iii) Are informed of their status as independent students under 39
20 U.S.C. Sec. 1087vv and that the youths may obtain assistance from 40
p. 10 HB 2594
the school district liaison to receive verification of such status 1
for purposes of the free application for federal student aid 2
described in 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1090. 3
(2) The coordinator for education of homeless children and youths 4
established under section 601 of this act in the office of the 5
superintendent of public instruction and school districts shall 6
inform school personnel, service providers, advocates working with 7
homeless families, parents and guardians of homeless children and 8
youths, and homeless children and youths of the duties of the school 9
district liaisons, and publish an annually updated list of the school 10
district liaisons on the website of the office of the superintendent 11
of public instruction. 12
(3) School district liaisons for homeless children and youths 13
shall, as a part of their duties, coordinate and collaborate with 14
state coordinators and community and school personnel responsible for 15
the provision of education and related services to homeless children 16
and youths. Such coordination must include collecting and providing 17
to the coordinator for education of homeless children and youths the 18
reliable, valid, and comprehensive data needed to meet the 19
requirements of section 601(2) (a) and (c) of this act.20
(4)(a) Each school district that receives funding provided by 21
specific reference for this chapter in the omnibus appropriations act 22
shall review and revise any policies that may act as barriers to the 23
identification of homeless children and youths or the enrollment of 24
homeless children and youths in schools that are selected in 25
accordance with best interest determinations for the students.26
(b) In reviewing and revising such policies, consideration must 27
be given to issues concerning transportation, immunization, 28
residency, birth certificates, school records and other 29
documentation, and guardianship. 30
(c) Special attention must be given to ensuring the 31
identification, enrollment, and attendance of homeless children and 32
youths who are not currently attending school. 33
STATE COORDINATOR34
NEW SECTION. Sec. 601. (1) The office of the superintendent of 35
public instruction shall establish or designate an office of the 36
coordinator for education of homeless children and youths.37
p. 11 HB 2594
(2) The coordinator for education of homeless children and youths 1
established in accordance with either applicable federal law, this 2
section, or both, shall: 3
(a) Gather and make publicly available reliable, valid, and 4
comprehensive information on: 5
(i) The number of homeless children and youths identified in the 6
state, which must be posted annually on the website of the 7
superintendent of public instruction; 8
(ii) The nature and extent of the problems homeless children and 9
youths have in gaining access to public preschool programs and to 10
public elementary schools and secondary schools; 11
(iii) The difficulties in identifying the special needs and 12
barriers to the participation and achievement of such children and 13
youths; 14
(iv) Any progress made by the office of the superintendent of 15
public instruction and school districts in the state in addressing 16
such problems and difficulties; and 17
(v) The success of the programs under this chapter in identifying 18
homeless children and youths and allowing such children and youths to 19
enroll in, attend, and succeed in, school; 20
(b) Develop and carry out the state plan described in section 301 21
of this act; 22
(c) Collect data for and transmit to the secretary of the United 23
States department of education, at such time and in such manner as 24
the secretary may reasonably require, a report containing information 25
necessary to assess the educational needs of homeless children and 26
youths within the state, including data necessary for the secretary 27
to fulfill the responsibilities under the McKinney-Vento homeless 28
assistance act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434(h), if applicable;29
(d) In order to improve the provision of comprehensive education 30
and related services to homeless children and youths and their 31
families, coordinate activities and collaborate with:32
(i) Educators, including teachers, special education personnel, 33
administrators, and child development and preschool program 34
personnel; 35
(ii) Providers of services to homeless children and youths and 36
their families, including public and private child welfare and social 37
services agencies, law enforcement agencies, juvenile and family 38
courts, agencies providing mental health services, domestic violence 39
agencies, child care providers, runaway and homeless youth centers, 40
p. 12 HB 2594
and providers of services and programs funded under the runaway and 1
homeless youth act, 42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.; 2
(iii) Providers of emergency, transitional, and permanent housing 3
to homeless children and youths, and their families, including public 4
housing agencies, shelter operators, operators of transitional 5
housing facilities, and providers of transitional living programs for 6
homeless youths; 7
(iv) School district liaisons designated under section 8
301(1)(j)(ii) of this act for homeless children and youths; and9
(v) Community organizations and groups representing homeless 10
children and youths and their families; 11
(e) Provide technical assistance to and conduct monitoring of 12
school districts in coordination with school district liaisons 13
designated under section 301 (1)(j)(ii) of this act, to ensure that 14
school districts comply with the requirements in sections 401 through 15
501, 802, and 901 of this act; 16
(f) Provide professional development opportunities for school 17
district personnel and the school district liaison designated under 18
section 301 (1)(j)(ii) of this act to assist such personnel and 19
liaison in identifying and meeting the needs of homeless children and 20
youths, and provide training to the liaison on the definitions of 21
terms related to homelessness specified in section 201 of this act 22
and the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 11302 23
and 11360, if applicable; and 24
(g) Respond to inquiries from parents and guardians of homeless 25
children and youths, and, in the case of unaccompanied youths, such 26
youths, to ensure that each child or youth who is the subject of such 27
an inquiry receives the full protections and services provided by 28
this chapter. 29
OSPI DUTIES AND AUTHORITY30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 701. (1) The office of the superintendent of 31
public instruction:32
(a) Shall assist school districts to implement the provisions 33
related to homeless children and youths established in this chapter 34
and applicable federal requirements in support of education for 35
homeless children and youths; and 36
(b) May review and revise state policies and procedures that may 37
present barriers to the identification of homeless children and 38
p. 13 HB 2594
youths, and the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless 1
children and youths in school. 2
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall, 3
directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, 4
periodically collect and disseminate data and information regarding:5
(a) The number and primary nighttime residence of homeless 6
children and youths in all areas served by school districts;7
(b) The education and related services such children and youths 8
receive; 9
(c) The extent to which the needs of homeless children and youths 10
are being met; and 11
(d) Such other data and information as the superintendent of 12
public instruction determines to be necessary and relevant to carry 13
out this chapter. 14
(3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall 15
coordinate such collection and dissemination with other agencies and 16
entities that receive assistance and administer programs under the 17
McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 11431 - 18
11435, this chapter, or both. 19
(4) By October 1, 2030, and every four years thereafter, prepare 20
and submit to the governor and the legislature, a report on the 21
status of education of homeless children and youths in Washington, 22
which must include information on: 23
(a) The education of homeless children and youths; and24
(b) The actions of the superintendent of public instruction and 25
the effectiveness of the programs supported under this chapter.26
GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS27
NEW SECTION. Sec. 801. (1) Subject to the availability of 28
amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the 29
superintendent of public instruction shall make grants available to 30
school districts for the purpose of facilitating the identification, 31
enrollment, attendance, and success in school of homeless children 32
and youths.33
(2) Services provided under subsection (1) of this section:34
(a) May be provided through programs on school grounds or at 35
other facilities; 36
p. 14 HB 2594
(b) Must, to the maximum extent practicable, be provided through 1
existing programs and mechanisms that integrate homeless children and 2
youths with nonhomeless children and youths; and 3
(c) Must be designed to expand or improve services provided as 4
part of a school's regular academic program, but not to replace such 5
services provided under such program. 6
(3) If services under subsection (1) of this section are provided 7
on school grounds, the related schools: 8
(a) May use funding provided by specific reference for this 9
chapter in the omnibus appropriations act to provide the same 10
services to other children and youths who are determined by the 11
school district to be at risk of failing in, or dropping out of, 12
school, subject to the requirements of (b) of this subsection (3); 13
and 14
(b) May not provide services in settings within a school that 15
segregate homeless children and youths from other children and 16
youths, except as necessary for short periods of time:17
(i) For health and safety emergencies; or 18
(ii) To provide temporary, special, and supplementary services to 19
meet the unique needs of homeless children and youths.20
(4) Services provided under this section may not replace the 21
regular academic program and must be designed to expand upon or 22
improve services provided as part of the school's regular academic 23
program. 24
(5) Grants made under this section must be for terms not to 25
exceed three years. 26
(6) A school district that desires to receive a grant under this 27
section shall submit an application to the office of the 28
superintendent of public instruction at such time, in such manner, 29
and containing or accompanied by such information as the office of 30
the superintendent of public instruction may reasonably require. Such 31
application must include the following: 32
(a) An assessment of the educational and related needs of 33
homeless children and youths in the area served by such school 34
district, which may be undertaken as part of needs assessments for 35
other disadvantaged groups; 36
(b) A description of the services and programs for which 37
assistance is sought to address the needs identified in (a) of this 38
subsection (6); 39
p. 15 HB 2594
(c) An assurance that the school district's combined fiscal 1
effort per student, or the aggregate expenditures of that school 2
district and the state with respect to the provision of free public 3
education by such school district for the fiscal year preceding the 4
fiscal year for which the determination is made, was not less than 90 5
percent of such combined fiscal effort or aggregate expenditures for 6
the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the 7
determination is made; 8
(d) An assurance that the applicant complies with or will use 9
requested funds to comply with sections 401, 402, and 501 of this 10
act; 11
(e) A description of policies and procedures, consistent with 12
section 212 of this act, that the school district will implement to 13
ensure that activities carried out by the school district will not 14
isolate or stigmatize homeless children and youths;15
(f) An assurance that the school district will collect and 16
promptly provide data requested by the coordinator for education of 17
homeless children and youths pursuant to section 601 (2) of this act; 18
and 19
(g) An assurance that the school district will meet the 20
requirements of section 401 of this act. 21
(7)(a) The office of the superintendent of public instruction 22
shall, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and from 23
amounts made available to it by appropriation, make competitive 24
grants to school districts that submit applications under subsection 25
(6) of this section. Such grants must be awarded on the basis of the 26
need of such school districts for assistance under this section and 27
the quality of the applications submitted. 28
(b) In determining need under (a) of this subsection (7), the 29
office of the superintendent of public instruction may consider the 30
number of homeless children and youths enrolled in early childhood 31
education and other preschool programs, elementary schools, and 32
secondary schools, within the area served by the school district, and 33
shall consider the needs of such children and youths and the ability 34
of the school district to meet such needs. The office of the 35
superintendent of public instruction may also consider the following:36
(i) The extent to which the proposed use of funds will facilitate 37
the identification, enrollment, retention, and educational success of 38
homeless children and youths; 39
p. 16 HB 2594
(ii) The extent to which the application reflects coordination 1
with other local and state agencies that serve homeless children and 2
youths; 3
(iii) The extent to which the applicant exhibits in the 4
application and in current practice, as of the date of submission of 5
the application, a commitment to education for all homeless children 6
and youths; and 7
(iv) Such other criteria as the office of the superintendent of 8
public instruction determines appropriate. 9
(c) In determining the quality of applications under (a) of this 10
subsection (7), the office of the superintendent of public 11
instruction shall consider the following: 12
(i) The applicant's needs assessment under (a) of this subsection 13
(7) and the likelihood that the program presented in the application 14
will meet such needs; 15
(ii) The types, intensity, and coordination of the services to be 16
provided under the program; 17
(iii) The extent to which the applicant will promote meaningful 18
involvement of parents or guardians of homeless children or youths in 19
the education of their children; 20
(iv) The extent to which homeless children and youths will be 21
integrated into the regular education program; 22
(v) The quality of the applicant's evaluation plan for the 23
program; 24
(vi) The extent to which services provided under this chapter 25
will be coordinated with other services available to homeless 26
children and youths and their families; 27
(vii) The extent to which the school district will use the grant 28
to leverage resources, including by maximizing nonsubgrant funding 29
for the position of the school district liaison described in section 30
501 of this act and the provision of transportation;31
(viii) How the school district will use funds to serve homeless 32
children and youths under section 1113 (c)(3) of the elementary and 33
secondary education act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6313(c)(3); and34
(ix) The extent to which the applicant's program meets such other 35
measures as the office of the superintendent considers indicative of 36
a high quality program, such as the extent to which the school 37
district will provide case management or related services to 38
unaccompanied youths. 39
p. 17 HB 2594
(8) A school district may use funds awarded under this section 1
for activities that carry out the purpose of this chapter, including 2
the following: 3
(a) The provision of tutoring, supplemental instruction, and 4
enriched educational services that are linked to the achievement of 5
the same challenging state academic standards as the state 6
establishes for other children and youths; 7
(b) The provision of expedited evaluations of the strengths and 8
needs of homeless children and youths, including needs and 9
eligibility for programs and services, such as educational programs 10
for highly capable students, children with disabilities, and English 11
learners, services provided under Title I of the elementary and 12
secondary education act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq. or 13
similar state or local programs, programs in career and technical 14
education, and school nutrition programs; 15
(c) Professional development and other activities for educators 16
and specialized instructional support personnel that are designed to 17
heighten the understanding and sensitivity of such personnel to the 18
needs of homeless children and youths, the rights of such children 19
and youths, and the specific educational needs of runaway and 20
homeless youths; 21
(d) The provision of referral services to homeless children and 22
youths for medical, dental, mental, and other health services;23
(e) The provision of assistance to defray the excess cost of 24
transportation for students under section 402 (1)(a) of this act, not 25
otherwise provided through federal, state, or local funding, where 26
necessary to enable students to attend the school selected under 27
section 401 of this act; 28
(f) The provision of developmentally appropriate early childhood 29
education programs, not otherwise provided through federal, state, or 30
local funding, for preschool-aged homeless children;31
(g) The provision of services and assistance to attract, engage, 32
and retain homeless children and youths, particularly homeless 33
children and youths who are not enrolled in school, in public school 34
programs and services provided to nonhomeless children and youths;35
(h) The provision for homeless children and youths of before-36
school and after-school, mentoring, and summer programs in which a 37
teacher or other qualified individual provides tutoring, homework 38
assistance, and supervision of educational activities;39
p. 18 HB 2594
(i) If necessary, the payment of fees and other costs associated 1
with tracking, obtaining, and transferring records necessary to 2
enroll homeless children and youths in school, including birth 3
certificates, immunization or other required health records, academic 4
records, guardianship records, and evaluations for special programs 5
or services; 6
(j) The provision of education and training to the parents and 7
guardians of homeless children and youths about the rights of, and 8
resources available to, such children and youths, and other 9
activities designed to increase the meaningful involvement of parents 10
and guardians of homeless children or youths in the education of such 11
children or youths; 12
(k) The development of coordination between schools and agencies 13
providing services to homeless children and youths, as described in 14
section 402 (2) through (5) of this act; 15
(l) The provision of specialized instructional support services, 16
including violence prevention counseling, and referrals for such 17
services; 18
(m) Activities to address the particular needs of homeless 19
children and youths that may arise from domestic violence and 20
parental mental health or substance abuse problems;21
(n) The adaptation of space and purchase of supplies for any 22
nonschool facilities made available under subsection (2) of this 23
section to provide services under this section; 24
(o) The provision of school supplies, including those supplies to 25
be distributed at shelters or temporary housing facilities, or other 26
appropriate locations; and 27
(p) The provision of other extraordinary or emergency assistance 28
needed to enable homeless children and youths to attend school and 29
participate fully in school activities. 30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 802. (1) A school district applying for 31
grants under section 801 of this act to implement this chapter must 32
demonstrate that the school district is meeting, as of the date of 33
submission of the application, the same federal and state standards, 34
regulations, and mandates as other public schools in the state, such 35
as complying with section 1111 of the elementary and secondary 36
education act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6311 and providing a full range 37
of education and related services, including services applicable to 38
students with disabilities.39
p. 19 HB 2594
(2) A school district applying for grants as provided in 1
subsection (1) of this section that fails to meet the standards, 2
regulations, and mandates described in subsection (1) of this section 3
is not eligible to receive funding provided by specific reference for 4
this chapter in the omnibus appropriations act for programs carried 5
out in such school after the first date of such failure.6
APPLICATION TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND STATE-TRIBAL COMPACT SCHOOLS7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 901. This chapter governs school operation 8
and management under RCW 28A.710.040 and 28A.715.020 and applies to 9
charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 RCW and state-10
tribal education compact schools subject to chapter 28A.715 RCW to 11
the same extent as it applies to school districts.12
NONSEGREGATION OF HOMELESS STUDENTS13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1001. In providing a free public education to 14
a homeless child or youth, no school district receiving funding 15
provided by specific reference for this chapter in the omnibus 16
appropriations act may segregate such child or youth in a separate 17
school, or in a separate program within a school, based on such 18
child's or youth's status as homeless.19
STATE AND LOCAL COMPLIANCE THROUGH MEETING APPLICABLE FEDERAL 20
REQUIREMENTS21
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1101. Actions of the office of the 22
superintendent of public instruction and school districts that meet 23
requirements of the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, 42 U.S.C. 24
Secs. 11431 - 11435, as it exists on January 1, 2026, also satisfy 25
equivalent requirements established in sections 101 through 901 of 26
this act.27
MISCELLANEOUS28
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1201. Sections 101 through 1101 of this act 29
constitute a new chapter in Title 28A RCW.30
p. 20 HB 2594
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1202. If any part of this act is found to be 1
in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition 2
to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part 3
of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and 4
with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does 5
not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its 6
application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act 7
must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the 8
receipt of federal funds by the state.9
--- END ---
p. 21 HB 2594