An act relating to supporting homeless students
H.835 would strengthen Vermont’s school enrollment and support rules for homeless students and other highly mobile students. It amends the state’s legal residence provisions so that a child of homeless parents is generally entitled to attend the child’s school of origin, unless the parents and another district agree that a different placement is in the child’s best interests. If a homeless student enrolls in a district other than the school of origin, the district must immediately enroll the student and obtain records from the prior school. If the student remains in the school of origin while the parent or guardian is in another district, the school of origin must provide transportation assistance so the student can continue attending regularly.
The bill also requires each school district to designate one or more employees as a homeless education liaison. That liaison would help homeless students access school, resolve enrollment disputes, arrange transportation, obtain school and immunization records, and assist unaccompanied homeless youth with enrollment decisions. Districts would also have to report the number of homeless children enrolled to the Agency of Education each year.
In addition to these enrollment protections, H.835 creates the Educational Stability Grant Program within the Agency of Education. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, the Agency would award grants to public education providers to support highly mobile students, including students experiencing homelessness and State-placed students. The grants are intended to fund academic and social-emotional supports that improve attendance, promotion, graduation, and completion rates while reducing behavioral and disciplinary incidents. The bill appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund for the program in fiscal year 2027 and allows the Agency to accept additional gifts or grants.
The bill would also require the Agency to adopt application procedures, evaluate grant recipients annually, and report results to the House and Senate Committees on Education by December 1 each year. The evaluation would examine educational stability, attendance, discipline, promotion, dropout, and graduation outcomes. Because the bill defines “public education provider” broadly, the grant program could reach school districts, supervisory unions, certain prekindergarten programs, and the University of Vermont and Vermont State Colleges Corporation.
Overall, the bill appears aimed at improving school continuity and educational outcomes for homeless and highly mobile students, with a generally supportive policy framing. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented legislative debate or vote-based sentiment in the materials. Based on the bill text alone, the main policy tension is likely to be between the educational benefits of expanded services and transportation obligations and the administrative and fiscal burden on school districts and the Agency of Education.
H.835 would amend 16 V.S.A. § 1075 to expand and clarify school enrollment rights for homeless children, require immediate enrollment in appropriate cases, mandate transportation assistance for students remaining in their school of origin, and require school districts to appoint homeless education liaisons. It would also create a new grant program in the Agency of Education and appropriate $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 to support services for highly mobile students. The bill would affect school districts, supervisory unions, certain prekindergarten providers, and higher education entities included in the grant definition, while adding reporting, evaluation, and administrative duties for the Agency of Education.
The bill’s stated purpose and structure suggest a supportive, student-centered approach focused on educational stability, attendance, and graduation outcomes for homeless and highly mobile students. Because no committee discussion or vote history was provided, there is no direct evidence of opposition or amendment activity in the record supplied. The available materials indicate a generally favorable policy orientation toward expanding protections and supports for vulnerable students.
The most likely points of contention are the new transportation obligations, the requirement that districts designate homeless liaisons, and the $500,000 General Fund appropriation for the grant program. School districts or fiscal stakeholders may question the cost and administrative workload, while supporters are likely to emphasize the need for continuity of schooling, rapid enrollment, and targeted supports for homeless and highly mobile students. Another possible issue is how broadly the grant program reaches different public education providers and how the Agency will measure effectiveness.