Hawaii, USA

A lawsuit has been filed and is seeking class action status against the state for allegedly neglecting to provide adequate education for hundreds of homeless children. The lawsuit was file in US District Court in Honolulu, HI and claims the state of Hawaii has not done enough to enroll homeless children, provide adequate transportation for them or to allow them to remain at their home school. The ACLU contends as many at 1,600 children could be affected by the lawsuit. The case claims the state has violated provisions of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, which provides states with federal grants for homeless programs. According to the lawsuit, the state receives about $200,000 a year in McKinney-Vento Act funds, but has failed to comply with requirements for tracking and educating homeless children.