H-1624.1

HOUSE BILL 2053


State of Washington	65th Legislature	2017 Regular Session

By Representatives Young, Shea, Taylor, Buys, and Hargrove

Read first time 02/09/17. Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Human Services.

AN ACT Relating to homeschooling foster youth; adding a new section to chapter 74.15 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. In August 2016, the department of social and health services proposed changes to foster parent licensing forbidding the provision of home-based instruction to all children in the care and custody of the department. This rule was made effective September 19, 2016, as WAC 388-148-1525.

As home-based instruction can be an appropriate and effective educational model for foster youth, the legislature intends to reverse WAC 388-148-1525(1)(b) and allow foster parents to provide home-based instruction to foster youth.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

Foster youth are able to receive home-based instruction as described by RCW 28A.225.010(4), including a home-based instruction offered by a foster parent, unless expressly prohibited by court order after a court finds that it would not be in the child's best interest to receive home-based instruction.

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