GREENFIELD — State lawmakers are taking a “serious look” at the state helping local schools that are paying to bus homeless students.
State Auditor Suzanne Bump recently announced the results of a statewide survey that found public school districts across the state are expected to spend close to a combined $11.3 million this fiscal year as a result of the federal Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which became part of the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002.
Mckinney-Vento mandates that each school district pay the cost to bus homeless children to schools either in that district or to another district.
“We should find the money,” said Sen. Stanley Rosenberg. “It’s a federal mandate, not a state mandate, but it’s something I’d like to see happen. I’d like to see it funded at the state level.”
Rosenberg said he does not want to put children in the crosshairs of budget battles at the local level.
“That sets kids up to be picked on,” he said. “People get upset with them because they are costing the city or town money. It’s not the kids’ fault. They shouldn’t have to pay that kind of price.”