H. R. 6—443
children and youth in the State and to assess their special
needs, and shall—
‘‘(A) describe procedures for the prompt resolution of
disputes regarding the educational placement of homeless
children and youth;
‘‘(B) describe programs for school personnel (including
principals, attendance officers, teachers and enrollment
personnel), to heighten the awareness of such personnel
of the specific needs of runaway and homeless youth;
‘‘(C) describe procedures that ensure that homeless
children and youth who meet the relevant eligibility criteria
are able to participate in Federal, State, or local food
programs;
‘‘(D) describe procedures that ensure that—
‘‘(i) homeless children have equal access to the
same public preschool programs, administered by the
State agency, as provided to other children; and
‘‘(ii) homeless children and youth who meet the
relevant eligibility criteria are able to participate in
Federal, State, or local before- and after-school care
programs;
‘‘(E) address problems set forth in the report provided
to the Secretary under subsection (f)(4);
‘‘(F) address other problems with respect to the edu-
cation of homeless children and youth, including problems
caused by—
‘‘(i) transportation issues; and
‘‘(ii) enrollment delays that are caused by—
‘‘(I) immunization requirements;
‘‘(II) residency requirements;
‘‘(III) lack of birth certificates, school records,
or other documentation; or
‘‘(IV) guardianship issues;
‘‘(G) demonstrate that the State educational agency
and local educational agencies in the State have developed,
and will review and revise, policies to remove barriers
to the enrollment and retention of homeless children and
youth in schools in the State; and
‘‘(H) contain an assurance that the State educational
agency and local educational agencies in the State will
adopt policies and practices to ensure that homeless chil-
dren and youth are not isolated or stigmatized.
‘‘(2) COMPLIANCE.—Each plan adopted under this sub-
section shall also show how the State will ensure that local
educational agencies in the State will comply with the require-
ments of paragraphs (3) through (9).
‘‘(3) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY REQUIREMENTS.—(A) The
local educational agency of each homeless child and youth to
be assisted under this subtitle shall, according to the child’s
or youth’s best interest, either—
‘‘(i) continue the child’s or youth’s education in the
school of origin—
‘‘(I) for the remainder of the academic year; or
‘‘(II) in any case in which a family becomes home-
less between academic years, for the following aca-
demic year; or
H. R. 6—444
‘‘(ii) enroll the child or youth in any school that
nonhomeless students who live in the attendance area in
which the child or youth is actually living are eligible
to attend.
‘‘(B) In determining the best interests of the child or youth
under subparagraph (A), the local educational agency shall
comply, to the extent feasible, with the request made by a
parent or guardian regarding school selection.
‘‘(C) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘school of
origin’ means the school that the child or youth attended when
permanently housed, or the school in which the child or youth
was last enrolled.
‘‘(D) The choice regarding placement shall be made regard-
less of whether the child or youth lives with the homeless
parents or has been temporarily placed elsewhere by the
parents.
‘‘(4) COMPARABLE SERVICES.—Each homeless child or youth
to be assisted under this subtitle shall be provided services
comparable to services offered to other students in the school
selected according to the provisions of paragraph (3), includ-
ing—
‘‘(A) transportation services;
‘‘(B) educational services for which the child or youth
meets the eligibility criteria, such as services provided
under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 or similar State or local programs, educational
programs for children with disabilities, and educational
programs for students with limited-English proficiency;
‘‘(C) programs in vocational education;
‘‘(D) programs for gifted and talented students; and
‘‘(E) school meals programs.
‘‘(5) RECORDS.—Any record ordinarily kept by the school,
including immunization records, academic records, birth certifi-
cates, guardianship records, and evaluations for special services
or programs, of each homeless child or youth shall be
maintained—
‘‘(A) so that the records are available, in a timely
fashion, when a child or youth enters a new school district;
and
‘‘(B) in a manner consistent with section 444 of the
General Education Provisions Act.
‘‘(6) COORDINATION.—Each local educational agency serving
homeless children and youth that receives assistance under
this subtitle shall coordinate with local social services agencies
and other agencies or programs providing services to such
children or youth and their families, including services and
programs funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth
Act.
‘‘(7) LIAISON.—(A) Each local educational agency that
receives assistance under this subtitle shall designate a
homelessness liaison to ensure that—
‘‘(i) homeless children and youth enroll and succeed
in the schools of that agency; and
‘‘(ii) homeless families, children, and youth receive edu-
cational services for which such families, children, and
youth are eligible, including Head Start and Even Start
programs and preschool programs administered by the local
H. R. 6—445
educational agency, and referrals to health care services,
dental services, mental health services, and other appro-
priate services.
‘‘(B) State coordinators and local educational agencies shall
inform school personnel, service providers, and advocates work-
ing with homeless families of the duties of the liaisons.
‘‘(8) REVIEW
AND
REVISIONS.—Each State educational
agency and local educational agency that receives assistance
under this subtitle shall review and revise any policies that
may act as barriers to the enrollment of homeless children
and youth in schools selected in accordance with paragraph
(3). In reviewing and revising such policies, consideration shall
be given to issues concerning transportation, immunization,
residency, birth certificates, school records, and other docu-
mentation, and guardianship. Special attention shall be given
to ensuring the enrollment and attendance of homeless children
and youth who are not currently attending school.
‘‘(9) COORDINATION.—Where applicable, each State and
local educational agency that receives assistance under this
subtitle shall coordinate with State and local housing agencies
responsible for developing the comprehensive housing afford-
ability strategy described in section 105 of the Cranston-Gon-
zalez National Affordable Housing Act to minimize educational
disruption for children who become homeless.
‘‘SEC. 723. LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY GRANTS FOR THE EDU-
CATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State educational agency shall, in
accordance with section 722(e) and from amounts made avail-
able to such agency under section 726, make grants to local
educational agencies for the purpose of facilitating the enroll-
ment, attendance, and success in school of homeless children
and youth.
‘‘(2) SERVICES.—Unless otherwise specified, services under
paragraph (1) may be provided through programs on school
grounds or at other facilities. Where such services are provided
through programs to homeless students on school grounds,
schools may provide services to other children and youth who
are determined by the local educational agency to be at risk
of failing in, or dropping out of, schools, in the same setting
or classroom. To the maximum extent practicable, such services
shall be provided through existing programs and mechanisms
that 
integrate 
homeless 
individuals 
with 
nonhomeless
individuals.
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENT.—Services provided under this section
shall not replace the regular academic program and shall be
designed to expand upon or improve services provided as part
of the school’s regular academic program.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—A local educational agency that desires to
receive a grant under this section shall submit an application
to the State educational agency at such time, in such manner,
and containing or accompanied by such information as the State
educational agency may reasonably require according to guidelines
issued by the Secretary. Each such application shall include—
H. R. 6—446
‘‘(1) a description of the services and programs for which
assistance is sought and the problems to be addressed through
the provision of such services and programs;
‘‘(2) an assurance that the local educational agency’s com-
bined fiscal effort per student or the aggregate expenditures
of that agency and the State with respect to the provision
of free public education by such agency for the fiscal year
preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made
was not less than 90 percent of such combined fiscal effort
or aggregate expenditures for the second fiscal year preceding
the fiscal year for which the determination is made;
‘‘(3) an assurance that the applicant complies with, or
will use requested funds to come into compliance with, para-
graphs (3) through (9) of section 722(g); and
‘‘(4) a description of policies and procedures that the agency
will implement to ensure that activities carried out by the
agency will not isolate or stigmatize homeless children and
youth.
‘‘(c) AWARDS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State educational agency shall, in
accordance with section 722(g) and from amounts made avail-
able to such agency under section 726, award grants under
this section to local educational agencies submitting an applica-
tion under subsection (b) on the basis of the need of such
agencies.
‘‘(2) NEED.—In determining need under paragraph (1), the
State educational agency may consider the number of homeless
children and youth enrolled in preschool, elementary, and
secondary schools within the area served by the agency, and
shall consider the needs of such children and youth and the
ability of the agency to meet such needs. Such agency may
also consider—
‘‘(A) the extent to which the proposed use of funds
would facilitate the enrollment, retention, and educational
success of homeless children and youth;
‘‘(B) the extent to which the application reflects
coordination with other local and State agencies that serve
homeless children and youth, as well as the State plan
required by section 722(g);
‘‘(C) the extent to which the applicant exhibits in the
application and in current practice a commitment to edu-
cation for all homeless children and youth; and
‘‘(D) such other criteria as the agency determines
appropriate.
‘‘(3) DURATION
OF
GRANTS.—Grants awarded under this
section shall be for terms not to exceed three years.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—A local educational agency may
use funds awarded under this section for activities to carry out
the purpose of this subtitle, including—
‘‘(1) the provision of tutoring, supplemental instruction,
and enriched educational services that are linked to the achieve-
ment of the same challenging State content standards and
challenging State student performance standards the State
establishes for other children or youth;
‘‘(2) the provision of expedited evaluations of the strengths
and needs of homeless children and youth, including needs
and eligibility for programs and services (such as educational