Grant Programs for Homeless Students Approved by Senate

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Senate has passed a bill that would create grant programs to provide support for a rising number of homeless students.

House Bill 1682 passed on a 42-6 vote Thursday, and will head back to the House for consideration because it was amended in the Senate.

The grant programs in part would help school districts hire more homeless liaisons and provide homeless students assistance with housing, transportation, case management, emergency shelters and more.

The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction reports about 35,500 homeless youth attended public schools in the state in 2015, up from 32,500 the year before.

The count has been rising since it began in 2009, but the office says some of the increase might be due to more accurate data recently.