FINAL BILL REPORT

4SHB 1999

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

C 71 L 16

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Coordinating services and programs for foster youth in order to improve educational outcomes.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Carlyle, Kagi, Lytton, Walsh, Sawyer, Pettigrew, Ortiz-Self, Dent, Parker, Caldier, Goodman and Jinkins).

House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Education Coordination Program for Dependent Youth.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) must contract with at least one nongovernmental entity that has demonstrated success in working with dependent youth in improving educational outcomes. The nongovernmental entity must:

Demonstration Site to Improve Educational Outcomes for Dependent Youth.

The 2013-15 Operating Budget provided funding for the Children's Administration to contract with a nongovernmental entity to improve educational outcomes of dependent students by providing individualized education services and monitoring and supporting the completion of educational milestones, remediation needs, and special education needs of these students. The 2015-17 Operating Budget provided funding for a second demonstration site to be implemented no earlier than July 1, 2016. These contracts are performance-based with a stated goal of improving the graduation rates of foster youth by 2 percent per year over five school years.

The services required by the demonstration site include:

Passport to College Promise Scholarship Program.

The Passport to College Promise Scholarship program (Passport program) was established in 2007 to help dependent students attend and succeed in college. The three primary components of this program are administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) and include:

In the 2012-13 academic year, 404 students were served through the Passport program.

Supplemental Education Transition Program.

The Supplemental Education Transition Program is part of the Passport program that is managed by the DSHS and requires the DSHS to contract with at least one nongovernmental entity to develop, implement, and administer a program of supplemental educational transition planning for youth beginning at age 14 in foster care.

The supplemental transition planning must include:

Summary:

Program of Education Coordination for Dependent Youth.

The DSHS must contract with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), which in turn must contract with a nongovernmental entity to administer a program of education coordinator for dependent youth. The OSPI must comply with all requirements necessary to maximize federal funding for this program. The contract must be outcome-driven with a stated goal of reducing educational barriers to youth success.

Demonstration Sites to Improve Educational Outcomes for Dependent Youth.

The current demonstration program to improve educational outcomes for dependent youth is maintained and expanded to include a second site. The second site must be implemented after July 1, 2016. The agency contracting with the nongovernmental agency for this purpose is changed from the DSHS to the OSPI and the resulting contract must be outcome-driven. The nongovernmental agency must engage in a public-private partnership with the OSPI and is responsible for raising a portion of the funds needed for service delivery, administration, and evaluation.

The youth eligible for referral are expanded to include youth ages 13 through 21.

Supplemental Education Transition Planning Program.

The Supplemental Education Transition Planning Program (SETuP) is moved from the DSHS to the WSAC. The youth served by this program are ages 13 through 21 and are not served by the demonstration sites. The contract for this service must be outcome-driven with a stated goal of improving the graduation rates and postsecondary plan initiation of eligible youth by 2 percent per year over five school years starting with the 2015-16 school year.

The SETuP program must include:

The SETuP program may be co-located in the DSHS, and the nongovernmental entity must report outcomes to the WSAC and the DSHS twice per year.

Memoranda of Understanding.

The DSHS, the WSAC, and the OSPI must enter into, or revise existing memoranda of understanding that:

By November 1, 2016, and twice a year thereafter, the DSHS, the WSAC, and the OSPI must submit a report to the Governor and appropriate committees of the Legislature regarding these programs and educational outcomes of dependant youth. The DSHS, the WSAC, and the OSPI, in consultation with the nongovernmental entities, must also submit a report by November 1, 2018, to the Governor and the Legislature regarding whether the transfer of programs from the DSHS has resulted in better coordinated services for youth.

Child Welfare Records.

The DSHS may disclose only those confidential child welfare records that pertain to or assist with meeting the educational needs of foster youth to another state agency or state agency's contracted provider responsible for assisting foster youth in attaining educational success and those records retain their confidentiality.

Votes on Final Passage:

2015 Regular Session

House

95

3

2016 Regular Session

House

94

2

Senate

47

0

Effective:

June 9, 2016