The bill H.835, introduced by Representative McGill, aims to enhance educational support for homeless students in Vermont. It mandates that school districts immediately enroll homeless students and provide transportation assistance to those attending their school of origin if their parents or guardians seek shelter in a different district. Additionally, the bill requires each school district to designate a homeless education liaison to facilitate access to education for homeless children and assist with enrollment disputes, transportation arrangements, and record requests. The legal definition of a child's residence for homeless students is established as their school of origin, unless an agreement is made with another district for the child's best interests.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the Educational Stability Grant Program within the Agency of Education, which will provide funding to public education providers to support highly mobile students through academic and social-emotional services. The program aims to improve school attendance, reduce behavioral incidents, and increase graduation rates. An appropriation of $500,000 is allocated for the program in fiscal year 2027, with provisions for the Agency to seek additional funding from other sources. The Agency is also tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of the services provided through the grants and reporting the findings to the legislative committees annually. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 16-1075