(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall establish or designate an office of the coordinator for education of homeless children and youths.
(2) The coordinator for education of homeless children and youths established in accordance with either applicable federal law, this section, or both, shall:
(a) Gather and make publicly available reliable, valid, and comprehensive information on:
(i) The number of homeless children and youths identified in the state, which must be posted annually on the website of the superintendent of public instruction;
(ii) The nature and extent of the problems homeless children and youths have in gaining access to public preschool programs and to public elementary schools and secondary schools;
(iii) The difficulties in identifying the special needs and barriers to the participation and achievement of such children and youths;
(iv) Any progress made by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and school districts in the state in addressing such problems and difficulties; and
(v) The success of the programs under this chapter in identifying homeless children and youths and allowing such children and youths to enroll in, attend, and succeed in, school;
(b) Develop and carry out the state plan described in RCW
28A.707.020;
(c) Collect data for and transmit to the secretary of the United States department of education, at such time and in such manner as the secretary may reasonably require, a report containing information necessary to assess the educational needs of homeless children and youths within the state, including data necessary for the secretary to fulfill the responsibilities under the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434(h), if applicable;
(d) In order to improve the provision of comprehensive education and related services to homeless children and youths and their families, coordinate activities and collaborate with:
(i) Educators, including teachers, special education personnel, administrators, and child development and preschool program personnel;
(ii) Providers of services to homeless children and youths and their families, including public and private child welfare and social services agencies, law enforcement agencies, juvenile and family courts, agencies providing mental health services, domestic violence agencies, child care providers, runaway and homeless youth centers, and providers of services and programs funded under the runaway and homeless youth act, 42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.;
(iii) Providers of emergency, transitional, and permanent housing to homeless children and youths, and their families, including public housing agencies, shelter operators, operators of transitional housing facilities, and providers of transitional living programs for homeless youths;
(iv) School district liaisons designated under RCW
28A.707.020(1)(j)(ii) for homeless children and youths; and
(v) Community organizations and groups representing homeless children and youths and their families;
(e) Provide technical assistance to and conduct monitoring of school districts in coordination with school district liaisons designated under RCW
28A.707.020(1)(j)(ii), to ensure that school districts comply with the requirements in RCW
28A.707.030 through
28A.707.050,
28A.707.090, and
28A.707.900;
(f) Provide professional development opportunities for school district personnel and the school district liaison designated under RCW
28A.707.020(1)(j)(ii) to assist such personnel and liaison in identifying and meeting the needs of homeless children and youths, and provide training to the liaison on the definitions of terms related to homelessness specified in RCW
28A.707.010 and the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 11302 and 11360, if applicable; and
(g) Respond to inquiries from parents and guardians of homeless children and youths, and, in the case of unaccompanied youths, such youths, to ensure that each child or youth who is the subject of such an inquiry receives the full protections and services provided by this chapter.
