SCOTT H. PETERS 1122 LONGWUHTII HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

52 WASHINGTON, DC 20515
ND ISTRICT, [202?225?0508

4350 EXECUTIVE DRIVE, 105

at the (?nitrh ?tatrs
lacunae at Representatihts
Uliltlashittgtun, 20515?0552

May 15, 2018

The Honorable Tom Torlakson

State Superintendent of Public Instruction
California Department of Education

1430 Street, Suite 5602

Sacramento, 4-5901

Dear Sup 'nte W,

. Many of my constituents are serv'ed by the San Diego Uni?ed School District (SDUSD), which
educates over 6,500 homeless youth in?San Diego, the third largest homeless student population in the
state of California. I write to eXpr?ss rn'y- extreme disappointment with the way the California Department
of Education (CDE) handled the grant application process for the Education for Homeless Youth
Program. applicatiOn Was rejected apparently only because one signature was missing.

'As you know,'San Diego, and California broadly, is in the midst of a homelessness crisis. The
federal government provides fundingrfor the Education for Homeless Youth Program, which I have
supported as a member of Congress; Th'egrogram is administered by the state with the intent of helping
homeless children struggling for education despite their dif?cult circumstances. This grant cycle,
SDUSD officials were told their grant application ?looked very solid and really good.? 1 However, CDE
rejected the application because one signature was missing. That signature had nothing to do with the
merit of the proposal, and this purely technical omission could easily have been rectified without
unfairness to the competitive process. Tossing the application for this minor reason is a draconian and
unfair penalty a penalty likely paid by the homeless students who deserved that support.

The purpose of the federal funding and the state competition is to reward the best application, not
to punish the smallest mistake. That?sexaCtly what happened here. I urge you to reconsider the way CDE
examines applications and notifies-applicants of their status. I would appreciate a response to the
following questions:

0 Does CDE contact districts with otherwise?promising applications to notify applicants if
applications are incomplete?

- Does a missing signature on a grant application disqualify applicants for any other grant
program?

0 IS there anything SDUSD can do to apply for funds during this grant period (2018-2021) in the
event that some awards are not fully utilized?

 

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SDUSD acknowledges that they made an honest mistake, but ?at out denial of much-needed
grant on this basis is a drastic penalty. I hope CDE will also reaf?rm its commitment to all students, do
the right thing, and reevaluate the grant application process.

Sincerel

 

Scott H. Peters
.J "5 Member of Congress

Cc: Cindy Marten, Superintendent, San Diego Uni?ed School District