FINAL BILL REPORT

2SHB 1646

C 291 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Including the Washington national guard youth challenge program as an alternative educational service provider.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Schmidt, Haigh, Talcott, Keiser, Cox, Schual‑Berke, Anderson, Pearson, Quall, Santos, Rockefeller, McDermott, Schindler, Conway, Bush, Dunn and Campbell).

House Committee on Education

Background:

By law, school districts are permitted to contract with outside organizations to provide classes and other educational services for eligible students.  Eligible students include students who are likely to be expelled or present disciplinary problems or who are academically at-risk.  The outside organizations are called alternative education service providers.  They include schools, alternative programs operated by organizations other than the school districts, education centers, skills centers, dropout prevention programs, and other public and private organizations offering educational programs for these students.

For at‑risk students, the school district and the service provider must specify the specific learning standards that the students are expected to achieve.  In addition, the placement of the student in the provider's alternative program must be jointly determined by the school district, the student's parent or legal guardian, and the alternative education service provider.  School districts may require students who would otherwise be expelled or suspended to attend a program offered by an alternative education service provider.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) adopts rules for the reporting and documentation of student enrollment in these programs.

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is a national program that seeks to provide educational assistance, structure, and mentoring to young people who have dropped out of school.  Entering students must not have been convicted of a felony and must be drug free.  The program has a 22‑week residential component and a year‑long post‑residential mentoring phase.  During the residential phase, students live in dormitories and take classes that will enable them to obtain a high school diploma or GED.  The residential phase is very structured and includes activities similar to basic military training.  The goal of the program is to have the students who leave it return to full‑time work or school, including post‑secondary education.  Sixty percent of the cost of the program is borne by the federal government.  Washington does not participate in the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, but the state is in line to receive a federal grant if the Washington National Guard is able to sponsor a program.

Summary:

The Washington National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is added to the list of alternative education service providers.  Funding for the program will be allocated directly to the Washington Military Department based on statewide average rates for basic education, special education, and categorical and block grant programs.  The formula based on one full-time equivalent student for each 100 hours of credit generating instruction each month.  The OSPI, in consultation with the Military Department, must adopt rules for the funding formula.  The State Board of Education will adopt rules on the acceptance of high school credits gained through the program.

Votes on Final Passage:

House7226

Senate480

Effective:  June 13, 2002