DOE gets deadline to track homeless

A federal judge has given the state Department of Education until April 30 to revise its enrollment forms and computer registration programs to improve how it identifies, tracks and transports homeless students as required under federal law.

U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor, in an order filed last week, also is requiring Education Department employees in the enrollment section to use a questionnaire to ensure homeless applicants are identified and told about their rights.

The 17-page document instructs education officials to come up with a plan by March 15 to implement the changes.