Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 2686

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.

Background:

High School and Beyond Plans.

One of the state graduation requirements is the completion of a High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP). Each student must have an HSBP to guide the student's high school experience and prepare him or her for postsecondary education or training and career. A student's plan starts in middle school and is revised as he or she moves forward through twelfth grade.

The content of the plan, and whether a student's plan meets applicable requirements, is determined at the district level. A student's high school transcript must contain a notation as to whether the student met the HSBP requirement. School districts are encouraged to involve parents and guardians in the process of developing and updating their student's HSBP.

All HSBPs must, at a minimum, include the following elements:

identification of career goals, aided by a skills and interest assessment;
identification of educational goals;
completion of a four-year course plan that fulfills state and local graduation requirements, and aligns with career and educational goals; and
completion of a current resume or activity log that provides a written compilation of student's education, work experience, and community service by the end of the twelfth grade.

School districts may also establish additional local requirements for HSBPs that serve the needs and interests of the district's students and for other specified purposes.

Dual Credit Programs.

Dual Credit programs allow students to take college-level courses while still in high school. Students may become eligible for college credit based on exam scores. Examples of dual credit programs include:

Career and Technical Education Programs;
Running Start Programs; or
College in the High School Programs.

College Bound Scholarship Program.

In 2007, Legislature established the College Bound Scholarship. This program provides state financial aid to low-income students who may not consider college as a possibility due to the cost. The scholarship covers tuition (at comparable public college rates), some fees, and a small book allowance.

Summary of Bill:

School districts must add the following elements as part of the minimum requirements for HSBPs:

the identification of dual credit programs and the opportunities they create for students, including career and technical education programs, running start programs, and college in the high school programs;
information about the college bound scholarship program; and
information about options for satisfying state and local graduation requirements as part of a four-year plan for course taking that aligns with the student's secondary and postsecondary goals.

Each HSBP must be provided to the students' parents or guardians in their native language.

Subject to funding, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must work with school districts, educational service districts, the Washington State School Directors' Association, students, and parents and guardians to identify best practices for HSBP. The best practices must be in compliance with HSBP minimum requirements, and must consider differences in enrollment and other factors that distinguish districts from one another. The identified best practices must be posted on the OSPI website by September 1, 2019, and may be revised as necessary.