HB4755 Enrolled

LRB096 16498 MJR 31768 b






1
    AN ACT concerning education.

 
2
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3
represented in the General Assembly: 



 
4
    Section 5. The Education for Homeless Children Act is 
5
amended  by adding Section 1-50 as follows:
 
6
    (105 ILCS 45/1-50  new)
7
    Sec. 1-50. Education of Homeless Children and Youth State
     
8
Grant Program.
9
    (a) It is the purpose and intent of this Section to

10
establish a State grant program that parallels and supplements,

11
but operates independently of, the federal grant program

12
allocating funds for assistance under Subtitle B of Title VII

13
of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
14
U.S.C. 11431
et seq.) and to establish a State grant program to 
15
support
school districts throughout this State in facilitating 
16
the
enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children 
17
and
youth.
18
    (b) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education

19
shall award competitive grants under an Education of Homeless

20
Children and Youth State Grant Program to applicant school

21
districts in accordance with this Section. Services provided by

22
school districts through the use of grant funds may not replace

23
the regular academic program and must be designed to expand

 


 






HB4755 Enrolled
- 2 -
LRB096 16498 MJR 31768 b




1
upon or improve services provided for homeless students as part

2
of the school's regular academic program.
3
    (c) A school district that desires to receive a grant under

4
this Section shall submit an application to the State Board of

5
Education at such time, in such manner, and containing or

6
accompanied by such information as the State Board of Education

7
may reasonably require.
8
    (d) Grants must be awarded on the basis of the need of the

9
school district for assistance under this Section and the

10
quality of the applications submitted.
11
        (1) In determining need under this subsection (d), the
    
12
    State Board of Education may consider the number of
    
13
    homeless children and youths enrolled in preschool,
    
14
    elementary school, and secondary school within the school
    
15
    district and shall consider the needs of such children and
    
16
    youths and the ability of the district to meet such needs.
    
17
    The State Board of Education may also consider the
    
18
    following:
19
            (A) The extent to which the proposed use of funds
        
20
        will facilitate the enrollment, retention, and
        
21
        educational success of homeless children and youths.
22
            (B) The extent to which the application (i)
        
23
        reflects coordination with other local and State
        
24
        agencies that serve homeless children and youths and
        
25
        (ii) describes how the applicant will meet the
        
26
        requirements of this Act and the federal
        
 


 






HB4755 Enrolled
- 3 -
LRB096 16498 MJR 31768 b




1
        McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance
        
2
        Improvements Act of 2001.
3
            (C) The extent to which the applicant exhibits  in
        
4
        the application and in current practice a commitment to
        
5
        education for all homeless children and youths.
6
            (D) Such other criteria as the State Board
        
7
        determines is appropriate.
8
        (2) In determining the quality of applications under
    
9
    this subsection (d), the State Board of Education shall
    
10
    consider the following:
11
            (A) The applicant's assessment of needs and the
        
12
        likelihood that the services presented in the
        
13
        application will meet such needs.
14
            (B) The types, intensity, and coordination of the
        
15
        services to be provided.
16
            (C) The involvement of parents or guardians of
        
17
        homeless children or youths in the education of these
        
18
        children.
19
            (D) The extent to which homeless children and
        
20
        youths are effectively integrated within the regular
        
21
        education program.
22
            (E) The quality of the applicant's evaluation plan
        
23
        for the services.
24
            (F) The extent to which services provided will be
        
25
        coordinated with other services available to homeless
        
26
        children and youths and their families.
 


 






HB4755 Enrolled
- 4 -
LRB096 16498 MJR 31768 b




1
            (G) Such other measures as the State Board
        
2
        considers indicative of high-quality services, such
        as 
3
        the extent to which the school district will provide
        
4
        case management or related services to unaccompanied
        
5
        youths.
6
    (e) Grants awarded under this Section shall be for terms

7
not to exceed 3 years, but are subject to annual appropriation 
8
for
the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant 
9
Program. School districts shall use funds awarded under this 
10
Section only for those activities set forth in Section 723(d) 
11
of Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
12
Assistance Act of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 11433(d)).
13
    (f) The State Board of Education may use up to 5% of the






14
funds appropriated for the purposes of this Section for


15
administrative costs, including the hiring of positions for the


16
implementation and administration of the grant program,


17
provided that if no appropriation is made to the State Board of 
18
Education

for a given fiscal year for the purposes of the grant 
19
program,

then the State Board of Education is not required to 
20
make any expenditures

in support of the program during that 
21
fiscal year.