PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 254

(1) THE SOCIAL THAT THE CHILD ATTENDED BEFORE THE CHILD
BECAME HOMELESS; OR

(2) THE SCHOOL IN WHICH THE HOMELESS CHILD WAS LAST
ENROLLED.

8-502.

(A) WHEN ANY SCHOOL PERSONNEL HAS REASON TO SUSPECT THAT A (CHILD
HAS BECOME HOMELESS OR RECEIVES INFORMATION THAT A HOMELESS (CHILD
HAS CHANGED HIS OR HER TEMPORARY LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, THE SCHOOL
MUST IMMEDIATELY INFORM THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN AND CHILD THAT THEY
HAVE THE OPTION OF EITHER:

(1) CONTINUING THE CHILD'S EDUCATION IN THE CHILD'S SCHOOL OF
ORIGIN; OR

(2) ENROLLING CHILD IN ANY OTHER SCHOOL THAT
NONHOMELESS STUDENTS IN THE ATTENDANCE AREA OF THE TEMPORARY ABODE
ARE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND.

(B) IT SHALL BE PRESUMED THAT THE SCHOOL SELECTED BY THE PARENT
OR GUARDIAN IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD.

(C) IF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN DOES NOT HAVE A PREFERENCE, IT SHALL
BE PRESUMED THAT THE SCHOOL OF ORIGIN IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE
CHILD.

(D) (1) IF THE TRAVEL TIME TO THE SCHOOL EXCEEDS 1 HOUR ONE WAY,
THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN, A TEACHER OF THE CHILD, THE PRINCIPAL OR THE
PRINCIPAL'S DESIGNEE FROM THE SCHOOL OF ORIGIN, AND THE LOCAL
SUPERINTENDENT OR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DESIGNEE MAY MEET AT THE
REQUEST OF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OR THE SCHOOL TO EVALUATE WHETHER
THE TRAVEL TO THE SCHOOL OF ORIGIN IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD AS
COMPARED TO ATTENDING THE SCHOOL NEAREST TO THE CHILD'S TEMPORARY
ABODE.

(2) THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL DEVELOP
GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(3) A PARENT OR GUARDIAN MAY BRING A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
PARENT'S OR GUARDIAN'S CHOICE TO THE MEETING.

(A) (1) IF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN CHOOSES THE SCHOOL OF ORIGIN,
THE SCHOOL OF ORIGIN MUST INFORM THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN AND HOMELESS
CHILD THAT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE SCHOOL OF
ORIGIN IF NEEDED.

(2) IF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A HOMELESS CHILD WHO
CONTINUES TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL OF ORIGIN STATES THAT THE PARENT OR

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