WA HB2594

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must ensure homeless children and youth have equal access to free public education, including preschool, and must establish a state coordinator position and submit an education plan to the legislature

"Homeless children and youths" defined as those lacking fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence, including those in shelters, motels, cars, parks, doubled-up housing, or abandoned in hospitals; includes unaccompanied youth not in parental custody

School districts must immediately enroll homeless students even without required records (immunizations, birth certificates, prior academic records), allow students to remain in their school of origin during homelessness, and provide transportation to school of origin with costs shared between districts if needed

Each school district must designate a homeless liaison to identify homeless students, ensure enrollment and access to services, mediate disputes, coordinate with social service agencies, and inform families of educational rights and transportation options

OSPI may award competitive grants to school districts for services including tutoring, early childhood programs, transportation, school supplies, professional development, referrals to health services, and before/after-school programs; applies equally to charter schools and state-tribal compact schools