CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1058

Chapter 112, Laws of 2003

58th Legislature
2003 Regular Session



FOSTER CHILDREN--EDUCATION



EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/27/03

Passed by the House April 21, 2003
  Yeas 97   Nays 0

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


Passed by the Senate April 9, 2003
  Yeas 45   Nays 0


BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
 
CERTIFICATE

I, Cynthia Zehnder, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1058 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.


CYNTHIA ZEHNDER
________________________________________    
Chief Clerk
Approved May 7, 2003.








GARY LOCKE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
May 7, 2003 - 2:26 p.m.







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1058
_____________________________________________

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

Passed Legislature - 2003 Regular Session
State of Washington58th Legislature2003 Regular Session

By House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Kagi, Boldt, McIntire, Nixon, Dickerson, Fromhold, O'Brien, Lantz, Linville, Kenney, Kessler, Clibborn, Talcott, Simpson and Wood)

READ FIRST TIME 02/07/03.   



     AN ACT Relating to educational attainment of children in foster care; adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the educational attainment of children in foster care is significantly lower than that of children not in foster care. The legislature finds that many factors influence educational outcomes for children in foster care, including the disruption of the educational process because of repeatedly changing schools.
     The legislature recognizes the importance of educational stability for foster children, and encourages the ongoing efforts of the department of social and health services and the office of the superintendent of public instruction to improve educational attainment of children in foster care. It is the intent of the legislature that efforts continue such as the recruitment of foster homes in school districts with high rates of foster care placements, the development and dissemination of informational materials regarding the challenges faced by children in foster care, and the expansion to other school districts of best practices identified in pilot projects.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     It is the policy of the state of Washington that, whenever practical and in the best interest of the child, children placed into foster care shall remain enrolled in the schools they were attending at the time they entered foster care.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     The administrative regions of the department shall develop protocols with the respective school districts in their regions specifying specific strategies for communication, coordination, and collaboration regarding the status and progress of foster children placed in the region, in order to maximize the educational continuity and achievement for foster children. The protocols shall include methods to assure effective sharing of information consistent with RCW 28A.225.330.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall establish an oversight committee composed of staff from the children's administration of the department, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and advocacy agencies to develop strategies for maintaining foster children in the schools they were attending at the time they entered foster care.
     (2) The duties of the oversight committee shall include, but are not limited to:
     (a) Developing strategies for school-based recruitment of foster homes;
     (b) Monitoring the progress of current pilot projects that assist foster children to continue attending the schools they were attending at the time they entered foster care;
     (c) Overseeing the expansion of the number of pilot projects;
     (d) Promoting the use of best practices, throughout the state, demonstrated by the pilot projects and other programs relating to maintaining foster children in the schools they were attending at the time they entered foster care; and
     (e) Informing the legislature of the status of efforts to maintain foster children in the schools they were attending at the time they entered foster care.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall work with the administrative office of the courts to develop protocols to ensure that educational stability is addressed during the shelter care hearing.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall perform the tasks provided in sections 2 through 5 of this act based on available resources.


         Passed by the House April 21, 2003.
         Passed by the Senate April 9, 2003.
         Approved by the Governor May 7, 2003.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 7, 2003.