3. The district of residence for a homeless child determined pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1979, c.207 (C. 18A:7B-12) shall be responsible for the education of the homeless child. The district of residence shall determine the educational placement of the child after consulting with the parent or guardian. This determination shall be: a. to continue the child’s education in the school district of last attendance, b. to enroll the child in the district of residence if the district of residence is not the district of last attendance, or c. to enroll the child in the school district where the child is temporarily living, whichever is in the child’s best interest. If the parent or guardian objects to the determination made by the district of residence, the executive county superintendent of schools shall be notified and within 48 hours shall determine the placement of the child based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. Any appeals regarding the determination shall be resolved according to rules established by the State Board of Education.

When the homeless child attends school in a district other than the district of residence, the district of residence shall pay the costs of tuition for the child to attend school in that district and shall pay for any transportation costs incurred by that district; except that in the case of a child who has resided in a domestic violence shelter, homeless shelter, or transitional living facility located in a district other than the district of residence for more than one year, the State shall pay the costs of tuition for the child to attend school in that district. When the homeless child attends school in the district of residence while temporarily residing in another district, the district of residence shall provide for transportation to and from school pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S. 18A:58-7

L.1989, c.290, s.3; amended 2012, c.80, s.2; amended 2017, c.83, s.2.