Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Education

HB 1646

Brief Description:  Including the Washington National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program as an alternative educational service provider.

Sponsors:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Haigh, Talcott, Keiser, Cox, Schual‑Berke, Anderson, Pearson, Quall, Santos, Rockefeller, McDermott, Schindler, Conway, Bush, Dunn and Campbell.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Includes the Washington National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program as an alternative educational service provider and permits OSPI to contract directly with the program to provide academic services to students who have dropped out of school.

Hearing Date:  2/5/01

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786‑7111).

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, present disciplinary problems, or are academically at risk.  The outside organizations are called alternative education service providers.  They include other schools, alternative educational service programs not operated by the school district, 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 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 Superintendent of Public Instruction 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 postsecondary education.   Sixty percent of the cost of the program is borne by the federal government.   Washington does not currently participate in the 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 in our state.

Summary of Bill: 

The Washington National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Pprogram is added to the list of alternative education service providers.  The program may be funded through contract with a school district.  It may also receive funding through a contract with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, if funding is available for that specific purpose.  Through the contract, a residential educational program and post residential mentoring will be provided to students eighteen years of age or younger who have dropped out of school or who have been excluded for disciplinary reasons.

Funding provided to the program will be based on the opening day enrollment of each program term.  For determining a level of funding per student, students in the program will be funded as though they were students of the school district in which the program is located, minus any funding for small school assistance.  

Teachers in the program may be provided through contract from a school district or educational service district located in the general area of the program.  Under the terms of a cooperative agreement, students who successfully complete course work through the program will receive academic credit from a school district in the area in which the program is located.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.