BILL REQ. #:  H-0994.1 

Read first time 01/30/13.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Human Services.

     AN ACT Relating to educational outcomes of youth in out-of-home care; amending RCW 28B.117.030, 28A.225.330, and 28A.210.090; reenacting and amending RCW 13.34.030; adding new sections to chapter 13.34 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.41 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.225 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.630 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature believes that youth residing in foster care are capable of achieving success in school with appropriate support. Youth residing in foster care in Washington state lag behind their nonfoster youth peers in educational outcomes. Reasonable efforts by the department of social and health services children's administration to monitor educational outcomes and encourage academic achievement for youth in out-of-home care should be a responsibility of the child welfare system. The legislature believes that active oversight and advocacy by a trained educational liaison, and collaborations will encourage youth to reach their fullest academic potential.

Sec. 2   RCW 13.34.030 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 36 s 13 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     For purposes of this chapter:
     (1) "Abandoned" means when the child's parent, guardian, or other custodian has expressed, either by statement or conduct, an intent to forego, for an extended period, parental rights or responsibilities despite an ability to exercise such rights and responsibilities. If the court finds that the petitioner has exercised due diligence in attempting to locate the parent, no contact between the child and the child's parent, guardian, or other custodian for a period of three months creates a rebuttable presumption of abandonment, even if there is no expressed intent to abandon.
     (2) "Child," "juvenile," and "youth" means:
     (a) Any individual under the age of eighteen years; or
     (b) Any individual age eighteen to twenty-one years who is eligible to receive and who elects to receive the extended foster care services authorized under RCW 74.13.031. A youth who remains dependent and who receives extended foster care services under RCW 74.13.031 shall not be considered a "child" under any other statute or for any other purpose.
     (3) "Current placement episode" means the period of time that begins with the most recent date that the child was removed from the home of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian for purposes of placement in out-of-home care and continues until: (a) The child returns home; (b) an adoption decree, a permanent custody order, or guardianship order is entered; or (c) the dependency is dismissed, whichever occurs first.
     (4) "Department" means the department of social and health services.
     (5) "Dependency guardian" means the person, nonprofit corporation, or Indian tribe appointed by the court pursuant to this chapter for the limited purpose of assisting the court in the supervision of the dependency.
     (6) "Dependent child" means any child who:
     (a) Has been abandoned;
     (b) Is abused or neglected as defined in chapter 26.44 RCW by a person legally responsible for the care of the child;
     (c) Has no parent, guardian, or custodian capable of adequately caring for the child, such that the child is in circumstances which constitute a danger of substantial damage to the child's psychological or physical development; or
     (d) Is receiving extended foster care services, as authorized by RCW 74.13.031.
     (7) "Developmental disability" means a disability attributable to intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or another neurological or other condition of an individual found by the secretary to be closely related to an intellectual disability or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with intellectual disabilities, which disability originates before the individual attains age eighteen, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and which constitutes a substantial limitation to the individual.
     (8) "Educational liaison" means a person who has been appointed by the court to fulfill responsibilities outlined in section 4 of this act.
     (9) "Extended foster care services" means residential and other support services the department is authorized to provide under RCW 74.13.031.
     (((9))) (10) "Guardian" means the person or agency that: (a) Has been appointed as the guardian of a child in a legal proceeding, including a guardian appointed pursuant to chapter 13.36 RCW; and (b) has the legal right to custody of the child pursuant to such appointment. The term "guardian" does not include a "dependency guardian" appointed pursuant to a proceeding under this chapter.
     (((10))) (11) "Guardian ad litem" means a person, appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child in a proceeding under this chapter, or in any matter which may be consolidated with a proceeding under this chapter. A "court-appointed special advocate" appointed by the court to be the guardian ad litem for the child, or to perform substantially the same duties and functions as a guardian ad litem, shall be deemed to be guardian ad litem for all purposes and uses of this chapter.
     (((11))) (12) "Guardian ad litem program" means a court-authorized volunteer program, which is or may be established by the superior court of the county in which such proceeding is filed, to manage all aspects of volunteer guardian ad litem representation for children alleged or found to be dependent. Such management shall include but is not limited to: Recruitment, screening, training, supervision, assignment, and discharge of volunteers.
     (((12))) (13) "Housing assistance" means appropriate referrals by the department or other supervising agencies to federal, state, local, or private agencies or organizations, assistance with forms, applications, or financial subsidies or other monetary assistance for housing. For purposes of this chapter, "housing assistance" is not a remedial service or time-limited family reunification service as described in RCW 13.34.025(2).
     (((13))) (14) "Indigent" means a person who, at any stage of a court proceeding, is:
     (a) Receiving one of the following types of public assistance: Temporary assistance for needy families, aged, blind, or disabled assistance benefits, medical care services under RCW 74.09.035, pregnant women assistance benefits, poverty-related veterans' benefits, food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically, refugee resettlement benefits, medicaid, or supplemental security income; or
     (b) Involuntarily committed to a public mental health facility; or
     (c) Receiving an annual income, after taxes, of one hundred twenty-five percent or less of the federally established poverty level; or
     (d) Unable to pay the anticipated cost of counsel for the matter before the court because his or her available funds are insufficient to pay any amount for the retention of counsel.
     (((14))) (15) "Out-of-home care" means placement in a foster family home or group care facility licensed pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW or placement in a home, other than that of the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian, not required to be licensed pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW.
     (((15))) (16) "Preventive services" means preservation services, as defined in chapter 74.14C RCW, and other reasonably available services, including housing assistance, capable of preventing the need for out-of-home placement while protecting the child.
     (((16))) (17) "Shelter care" means temporary physical care in a facility licensed pursuant to RCW 74.15.030 or in a home not required to be licensed pursuant to RCW 74.15.030.
     (((17))) (18) "Sibling" means a child's birth brother, birth sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, half-brother, or half-sister, or as defined by the law or custom of the Indian child's tribe for an Indian child as defined in RCW 13.38.040.
     (((18))) (19) "Social study" means a written evaluation of matters relevant to the disposition of the case and shall contain the following information:
     (a) A statement of the specific harm or harms to the child that intervention is designed to alleviate;
     (b) A description of the specific services and activities, for both the parents and child, that are needed in order to prevent serious harm to the child; the reasons why such services and activities are likely to be useful; the availability of any proposed services; and the agency's overall plan for ensuring that the services will be delivered. The description shall identify the services chosen and approved by the parent;
     (c) If removal is recommended, a full description of the reasons why the child cannot be protected adequately in the home, including a description of any previous efforts to work with the parents and the child in the home; the in-home treatment programs that have been considered and rejected; the preventive services, including housing assistance, that have been offered or provided and have failed to prevent the need for out-of-home placement, unless the health, safety, and welfare of the child cannot be protected adequately in the home; and the parents' attitude toward placement of the child;
     (d) A statement of the likely harms the child will suffer as a result of removal;
     (e) A description of the steps that will be taken to minimize the harm to the child that may result if separation occurs including an assessment of the child's relationship and emotional bond with any siblings, and the agency's plan to provide ongoing contact between the child and the child's siblings if appropriate; and
     (f) Behavior that will be expected before determination that supervision of the family or placement is no longer necessary.
     (((19))) (20) "Supervising agency" means an agency licensed by the state under RCW 74.15.090, or licensed by a federally recognized Indian tribe located in this state under RCW 74.15.190, that has entered into a performance-based contract with the department to provide case management for the delivery and documentation of child welfare services as defined in RCW 74.13.020.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department must identify an educational liaison for youth in grades six through twelve who are subject to a proceeding under this chapter and who meet one of the following requirements:
     (a) Parental rights have been terminated;
     (b) Parents are unavailable because of incarceration or other limitations;
     (c) The court has restricted contact between the youth and parents; or
     (d) The youth is placed in a behavioral rehabilitative setting and the court has limited the educational rights of parents.
     (2) The department shall recommend the identified educational liaison at the shelter care hearing and all subsequent hearings for the given case. If all parties are in agreement with the department's recommendation, the court shall issue an order establishing the educational liaison for the youth. In the event that any party disagrees with the department's recommendation, the court may hear argument regarding this issue and determine who should serve as educational liaison based on who would best act in the youth's educational interest.
     (3) It is preferred that the educational liaison be known to the youth and be a relative, fictive kin, or the youth's foster parent. Birth parents with a primary plan of family reunification may serve as the educational liaison. The identified educational liaison should be a person committed to providing enduring educational support to the youth. If the department is not able to identify an adult with an existing relationship to the youth who is able to serve as the educational liaison, the court may appoint another adult as the educational liaison, such as the court-appointed special advocate, but may not appoint the youth's caseworker.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Unless otherwise directed by the court, the responsibilities of the educational liaison for a youth subject to a proceeding under this chapter include, but are not limited to, the following:
     (a) To attend educational meetings and dependency hearings;
     (b) To meet with local school personnel at regular intervals regarding the youth's educational performance and academic needs;
     (c) To seek to understand the youth's academic strengths, areas of concern, and future life goals;
     (d) To establish a meaningful and enduring relationship with the youth;
     (e) To advocate for necessary educational services;
     (f) To join in decision-making processes regarding appropriate school placements, school coursework, personal future, and educational planning;
     (g) To explore opportunities and barriers for youth to participate in extracurricular activities;
     (h) To involve youth in educational decisions as developmentally appropriate;
     (i) To keep all information regarding the youth confidential except as required pursuant to lawful order of a court; and
     (j) To provide a written or verbal report to the court during each dependency hearing. The report must include information about the youth's educational progress, experience in school, and the educational liaison's and youth's recommendations regarding needed services in school or the community.
     (2) The educational liaison may serve as the surrogate parent or educational representative under federal law.
     (3) The educational liaison may have access to all educational records pertaining to the youth involved in the case, without the consent of a parent or guardian of the child, or if the child is under thirteen years of age.
     (4) The educational liaison must participate in educational liaison training within thirty days of the court appointment. The educational liaison training must be provided by the department.
     (5) The educational liaison is a volunteer and not compensated for services.
     (6) The educational liaison must complete background checks as required by the department.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall provide youth residing in out-of-home care the opportunity to remain in their school of origin, unless the safety of the youth is jeopardized by remaining enrolled in the school of origin or a relative placement approved by the department is secured for the youth. If there is a disagreement regarding school enrollment, the youth may remain in the school of origin until the disagreement is resolved in court, unless the youth is in immediate danger by remaining in the school of origin.
     (2) Unless otherwise directed by the court, the educational responsibilities of the department for school-aged youth residing in out-of-home care are the following:
     (a) To collaboratively discuss and document school placement options and plan necessary school transfers during the family team decision-making meeting;
     (b) To enroll youth in school;
     (c) To notify the receiving school and the school of origin that a youth residing in foster care is transferring schools;
     (d) To request and secure missing academic records or medical records required for school enrollment within ten business days;
     (e) To document the request and receipt of academic records in the individual service and safety plan;
     (f) To pay any unpaid fees or fines due by the youth to the school or school district;
     (g) To notify all legal parties when a school disruption occurs;
     (h) To document factors that contributed to any school disruptions; and
     (i) To pay for transportation costs for a youth to attend his or her school of origin when the youth has been in out-of-home care for over twelve months.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 43.41 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The education research and data center, office of the superintendent of public instruction, Washington student achievement council, and the department of social and health services shall develop a reporting strategy to provide annual reports to the legislature in January on its previous school year performance. The report must include educational outcome data for students who have been in foster care at age seventeen and one-half years and older in aggregate, with and without special education needs, and further disaggregated using the department of social and health services' categories of race and ethnicity. The report must further include information on the following measures for youth residing in foster care:
     (a) Percentage of youth enrolled in an early learning program;
     (b) Aggregate scores from the Washington state kindergarten readiness assessment;
     (c) Aggregate scores from the third grade statewide student assessment in reading;
     (d) Number of youth graduating from high school with a documented plan for postsecondary education, employment, or military service;
     (e) Number of youth in care completing one year of postsecondary education, the equivalent of freshman credits, or achieving a postsecondary certificate; and
     (f) Number of youth residing in foster care who complete an associate or bachelor degree.
     (2) The state agencies must identify strengths and weaknesses in practice and recommend to the legislature strategy and needed resources for improvement.

Sec. 7   RCW 28B.117.030 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 221 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The office shall design and, to the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, implement, a program of supplemental scholarship and student assistance for students who have emancipated from the state foster care system after having spent at least one year in care.
     (2) The office shall convene and consult with an advisory committee to assist with program design and implementation. The committee shall include but not be limited to former foster care youth and their advocates; representatives from the state board for community and technical colleges, and from public and private agencies that assist current and former foster care recipients in their transition to adulthood; and student support specialists from public and private colleges and universities.
     (3) To the extent that sufficient funds have been appropriated for this purpose, a student is eligible for assistance under this section if he or she:
     (a) ((Emancipated from foster care on or after January 1, 2007, after having)) Spent at least one year in foster care subsequent to his or her sixteenth birthday;
     (b) Meets one of the following three requirements:
     (i) Emancipated from foster care on or after January 1, 2007;
     (ii) Enrolls in extended foster care; or     
     (iii) Achieves a permanent plan after age seventeen and one-half years;
     (c) Is a resident student, as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2);
     (((c))) (d) Is enrolled with or will enroll on at least a half-time basis with an institution of higher education in Washington state by the age of twenty-one;
     (((d))) (e) Is making satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a degree or certificate program, if receiving supplemental scholarship assistance;
     (((e))) (f) Has not earned a bachelor's or professional degree; and
     (((f))) (g) Is not pursuing a degree in theology.
     (4) A passport to college scholarship under this section:
     (a) Shall not exceed resident undergraduate tuition and fees at the highest-priced public institution of higher education in the state; and
     (b) Shall not exceed the student's financial need, less a reasonable self-help amount defined by the ((board)) office, when combined with all other public and private grant, scholarship, and waiver assistance the student receives.
     (5) An eligible student may receive a passport to college scholarship under this section for a maximum of five years after the student first enrolls with an institution of higher education or until the student turns age twenty-six, whichever occurs first. If a student turns age twenty-six during an academic year, and would otherwise be eligible for a scholarship under this section, the student shall continue to be eligible for a scholarship for the remainder of the academic year.
     (6) The office, in consultation with and with assistance from the state board for community and technical colleges, shall perform an annual analysis to verify that those institutions of higher education at which students have received a scholarship under this section have awarded the student all available need-based and merit-based grant and scholarship aid for which the student qualifies.
     (7) In designing and implementing the passport to college student support program under this section, the office, in consultation with and with assistance from the state board for community and technical colleges, shall ensure that a participating college or university:
     (a) Has a viable plan for identifying students eligible for assistance under this section, for tracking and enhancing their academic progress, for addressing their unique needs for assistance during school vacations and academic interims, and for linking them to appropriate sources of assistance in their transition to adulthood;
     (b) Receives financial and other incentives for achieving measurable progress in the recruitment, retention, and graduation of eligible students.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   A new section is added to chapter 28A.225 RCW to read as follows:
     A school district representative or school employee shall review unexpected or excessive absences with a dependent youth and adults involved with that youth, to include the youth's caseworker, educational designee, attorney, biological parent or parents, and foster parent or parents. The purpose of the review is to determine the cause of the absences, taking into account: Unplanned school transitions, periods of runaway, in-patient treatment, incarceration, school adjustment, educational gaps, psycho-social issues, and unavoidable appointments during the school day. A school district representative or a school employee must proactively support the youth's school work so the student does not fall behind and to avoid suspension or expulsion based on truancy.

Sec. 9   RCW 28A.225.330 and 2009 c 380 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) When enrolling a student who has attended school in another school district, the school enrolling the student may request the parent and the student to briefly indicate in writing whether or not the student has:
     (a) Any history of placement in special educational programs;
     (b) Any past, current, or pending disciplinary action;
     (c) Any history of violent behavior, or behavior listed in RCW 13.04.155;
     (d) Any unpaid fines or fees imposed by other schools; and
     (e) Any health conditions affecting the student's educational needs.
     (2) The school enrolling the student shall request the school the student previously attended to send the student's permanent record including records of disciplinary action, history of violent behavior or behavior listed in RCW 13.04.155, attendance, immunization records, and academic performance. If the student has not paid a fine or fee under RCW 28A.635.060, or tuition, fees, or fines at approved private schools the school may withhold the student's official transcript, but shall transmit information about the student's academic performance, special placement, immunization records, records of disciplinary action, and history of violent behavior or behavior listed in RCW 13.04.155. If the official transcript is not sent due to unpaid tuition, fees, or fines, the enrolling school shall notify both the student and parent or guardian that the official transcript will not be sent until the obligation is met, and failure to have an official transcript may result in exclusion from extracurricular activities or failure to graduate.
     (3) Upon request, school districts shall furnish a set of unofficial educational records to a parent or guardian of a student who is transferring out of state and who meets the definition of a child of a military family in transition under Article II of RCW 28A.705.010. School districts may charge the parent or guardian the actual cost of providing the copies of the records.
     (4) If information is requested under subsection (2) of this section, the information shall be transmitted within two school days after receiving the request and the records shall be sent as soon as possible. The records of a student who meets the definition of a child of a military family in transition under Article II of RCW 28A.705.010 shall be sent within ten days after receiving the request. Any school district or district employee who releases the information in compliance with this section is immune from civil liability for damages unless it is shown that the school district employee acted with gross negligence or in bad faith. The professional educator standards board shall provide by rule for the discipline under chapter 28A.410 RCW of a school principal or other chief administrator of a public school building who fails to make a good faith effort to assure compliance with this subsection.
     (5) Any school district or district employee who releases the information in compliance with federal and state law is immune from civil liability for damages unless it is shown that the school district or district employee acted with gross negligence or in bad faith.
     (6) When a school receives information under this section or RCW 13.40.215 that a student has a history of disciplinary actions, criminal or violent behavior, or other behavior that indicates the student could be a threat to the safety of educational staff or other students, the school shall provide this information to the student's teachers and security personnel.
     (7) A school may not prevent a student who is dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW from enrolling if there is incomplete information as enumerated in subsection (1) of this section during the ten business days that the department of social and health services has to obtain that information under section 5 of this act. In addition, upon enrollment of a student who is dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW, the school district must make reasonable efforts to obtain and assess that child's educational history in order to meet the child's unique needs within two business days.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   A new section is added to chapter 28A.630 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction must contract with a nongovernmental entity or entities to establish one demonstration site in a school district or group of school districts located in western Washington. The office of the superintendent of public instruction and the nongovernmental entity or entities shall collaboratively select the demonstration site. The demonstration site selected should be a school district or group of school districts with a significant number of students who are dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW.
     (2) The demonstration site of this section must be selected by September 1, 2013.
     (3) The purpose of the demonstration site is to improve the educational outcomes of students who are dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW through individualized education services, monitoring and supporting dependent youth's completion of educational milestones, remediation needs, and special education needs.
     (4)(a) The demonstration site of this section must facilitate the educational progress and graduation of dependent youth. The contract must be performance-based with a stated goal of improving the annual graduation rates of foster youth by two percent per year over five school year periods, starting with the 2014-15 school year and ending with the 2019-20 school year. The demonstration site must develop services aimed at improving educational outcomes of foster youth and provide these services to youth. This must include, at a minimum:
     (i) Direct advocacy for foster youth to eliminate barriers to educational access and success;
     (ii) Consultation with department of social and health services caseworkers to develop educational plans for and with participating youth;
     (iii) Monitoring education progress of participating youth;
     (iv) Providing participating youth with school and local resources that may assist in educational access and success;
     (v) Coaching youth, caregivers, and social workers to help those people advocate for the youth in the educational system.
     (b) The selected nongovernmental entity or entities must report outcomes annually to the department of social and health services and the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
     (c) The department of social and health services must proactively refer all students fifteen years or older, within the demonstration site area, to the selected nongovernmental entity for educational services and reporting quarterly to the legislature the number of eligible youth and number of youth referred for services.
     (5) No later than December 1, 2018, the contracted nongovernmental entity or entities shall provide the legislature a report on the effectiveness of the demonstration site in increasing graduation rates for dependent youth.

Sec. 11   RCW 28A.210.090 and 2011 c 299 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any child shall be exempt in whole or in part from the immunization measures required by RCW 28A.210.060 through 28A.210.170 upon the presentation of any one or more of the certifications required by this section, on a form prescribed by the department of health:
     (a) A written certification signed by a health care practitioner that a particular vaccine required by rule of the state board of health is, in his or her judgment, not advisable for the child: PROVIDED, That when it is determined that this particular vaccine is no longer contraindicated, the child will be required to have the vaccine;
     (b) A written certification signed by any parent or legal guardian of the child or any adult in loco parentis to the child that the religious beliefs of the signator are contrary to the required immunization measures; ((or))
     (c) A written certification signed by any parent or legal guardian of the child or any adult in loco parentis to the child that the signator has either a philosophical or personal objection to the immunization of the child; or
     (d) A written certification signed by any caseworker of a child in state care pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW that the department of social and health services cannot locate immunization records, but will make reasonable efforts to locate these records or provide the required immunizations, as required under section 5 of this act.
     (2)(a) The form presented on or after July 22, 2011, must include a statement to be signed by a health care practitioner stating that he or she provided the signator with information about the benefits and risks of immunization to the child. The form may be signed by a health care practitioner at any time prior to the enrollment of the child in a school or licensed day care. Photocopies of the signed form or a letter from the health care practitioner referencing the child's name shall be accepted in lieu of the original form.
     (b) A health care practitioner who, in good faith, signs the statement provided for in (a) of this subsection is immune from civil liability for providing the signature.
     (c) Any parent or legal guardian of the child or any adult in loco parentis to the child who exempts the child due to religious beliefs pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section is not required to have the form provided for in (a) of this subsection signed by a health care practitioner if the parent or legal guardian demonstrates membership in a religious body or a church in which the religious beliefs or teachings of the church preclude a health care practitioner from providing medical treatment to the child.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "health care practitioner" means a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW, a naturopath licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW, a physician assistant licensed under chapter 18.71A or 18.57A RCW, or an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12   Section 7 of this act expires June 30, 2022.