HB5407 EnrolledLRB103 37950 RJT 68082 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Education for Homeless Children Act is
5amended by changing Section 1-50 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 45/1-50)
7    Sec. 1-50. Education of Homeless Children and Youth State
8Grant Program.
9    (a) It is the purpose and intent of this Section to
10establish a State grant program that parallels and
11supplements, but operates independently of, the federal grant
12program allocating funds for assistance under Subtitle B of
13Title VII of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
14Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) and to establish a State grant
15program to support school districts throughout this State in
16facilitating the enrollment, attendance, and success of
17homeless children and youth.
18    (b) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education
19shall award competitive grants under an Education of Homeless
20Children and Youth State Grant Program to applicant school
21districts based on the percentage of students experiencing
22homelessness in an applicant school district in accordance
23with this Section. Services provided by school districts

 

 

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1through the use of grant funds may not replace the regular
2academic program and must be designed to expand upon or
3improve services provided for homeless students as part of the
4school's regular academic program.
5    (c) A school district that desires to receive a grant
6under this Section shall submit an application to the State
7Board of Education at such time, in such manner, and
8containing or accompanied by such information as the State
9Board of Education may reasonably require.
10    (d) To award grants Grants must be awarded on the basis of
11the need of the school district for assistance under this
12Section, the State Board of Education may consider all of the
13following: and the quality of the applications submitted.
14        (1) In determining need under this subsection (d), the
15    State Board of Education may consider the number of
16    homeless children and youths enrolled in preschool,
17    elementary school, and secondary school within the school
18    district and shall consider the needs of such children and
19    youths and the ability of the district to meet such needs.
20    The State Board of Education may also consider the
21    following:
22            (A) (Blank). The extent to which the proposed use
23        of funds will facilitate the enrollment, retention,
24        and educational success of homeless children and
25        youths.
26            (B) (Blank). The extent to which the application

 

 

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

 

 

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1        for the services.
2            (F) The extent to which services provided will be
3        coordinated with other services available to homeless
4        children and youths and their families.
5            (G) Such other measures as the State Board
6        considers indicative of high-quality services, such as
7        the extent to which the school district will provide
8        case management or related services to unaccompanied
9        youths.
10    (e) Grants awarded under this Section shall be for terms
11not to exceed 3 years, but are subject to annual appropriation
12for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant
13Program. School districts shall use funds awarded under this
14Section only for those activities set forth in Section 723(d)
15of Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
16Assistance Act of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 11433(d)).
17    Activities eligible for assistance under this Section may
18include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
19        (1) Rental assistance, which shall include utilities,
20    security and utility deposits, first and last month's
21    rent, rental application fees, moving expenses, and any
22    other eligible expenses to be determined by the State
23    Board.
24        (2) Transportation assistance, including school bus
25    transportation, public transportation passes, and gasoline
26    assistance for a student or family with a vehicle or to a

 

 

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1    family member with a vehicle who can transport the
2    student.
3        (3) Emergency shelter, including temporary hotel
4    stays.
5        (4) Housing stability case management and housing
6    locator services.
7        (5) Other collaborative housing strategies, including
8    prevention and strength-based safety and housing
9    approaches, including, but not limited to, school
10    supplies, clothing, academic enrichment, tutoring, and
11    parental involvement programs.
12        (6) Activities set forth in Section 723(d) of Subtitle
13    B of Title VII of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless
14    Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11433(d)).
15    (f) The State Board of Education may use up to 25% 5% of
16the funds appropriated for the purposes of this Section for
17administrative costs, including the hiring of positions for
18the implementation and administration of the grant program,
19provided that if no appropriation is made to the State Board of
20Education for a given fiscal year for the purposes of the grant
21program, then the State Board of Education is not required to
22make any expenditures in support of the program during that
23fiscal year.
24(Source: P.A. 96-1229, eff. 1-1-11.)