{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-18-8a-1","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 18-8A-1","heading":"Legislative findings; definition of homeless child.","body":"(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that because of the growing number of children and families who are homeless in West Virginia there is a need to ensure that all homeless children receive a proper education. It is the intent of the Legislature that no child shall be denied the benefits of a free education in the public schools because the child is homeless.\nThe Legislature further finds that programs and materials must be made available to homeless and at-risk children to assure opportunities for an equal education. Programs shall include, but not be limited to, incorporating the ideas of academic achievement, career exploration, self-esteem enhancement, behavior modification and other programs relating to student development.\n(b) As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires, \"homeless child\" means:\n(1) A child who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence; or\n(2) A child who has a primary nighttime residence which is:\n(i) A supervised, publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, including welfare hotels, congregate shelters and transitional housing for the mentally ill;\n(ii) An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or\n(iii) A public or private place not designed for, nor ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.\n(c) \"Homeless child\" does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an act of Congress or a state law.","path":["CHAPTER 18. EDUCATION.","ARTICLE 8A. ATTENDANCE OF HOMELESS CHILDREN."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/18-8A-1/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:24:42Z","sha256":"50af271d7a2a8db28cef1c1e92fef86b6b849098716004038596a338d4074a49","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-18-8-12","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-18-8a-2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}