September 2013
Foster Care Outcomes
1.
Purpose: The purpose of SHB 2254 (Foster Care – Education Success, 2012 Session) is to:.
a. Improve the high school graduation outcomes of foster youth through coordinated P-20 and
child welfare outreach, intervention, and planning; and provide improved postsecondary
outcomes.
b. Facilitate the on-time grade level progression and graduation of students who are
dependent.
c. Provide for our students in foster care: wraparound educational advocacy services; mandate
the timely transmission of educational records; recognize the importance of maintaining a
foster child in the school program he or she was in before entering the foster care system
and minimizing the number of times a child has to change schools.
d. Increase/improve dependent student access to and participation regarding post-secondary
scholarship opportunities.
e. Increase/improve cross-system collaboration between education, Children’s Administration
and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
2.
Description of services provided:
a. The K-12 data governance group established under RCW 28A.300.507 shall create a
comprehensive needs requirement document detailing the specific information, technical
capacity, and any federal and state statutory and regulatory changes needed by school
districts, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the department of social and
health services, or the higher education coordinating board or its successor.
i. In complying with (a) of this subsection, the K-12 data governance group shall
consult with: Educational support service organizations, with which the department
of social and health services contracts or collaborates, having responsibility for
educational support services and educational outcomes of dependent students; the
passport to college advisory committee; the education support service organizations
under contract to perform outreach for the passport to college promise program
under chapter 28B.117 RCW; the department of social and health services; the
office of the attorney general; the higher education coordinating board or its
successor; and the office of the administrator for the courts.
ii. By December 1, 2012, the superintendent of public instruction shall submit a report
to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature regarding: The
analysis of needs by the K-12 data governance group; a timeline for addressing
those needs for which no statutory changes are necessary and that can be
implemented within existing resources; and recommended options for addressing
identified needs for which statutory changes, additional funding, or both, are
necessary.
b. By December 1, 2012, and on an annual basis through December 1, 2015, the
superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the department of social and
health services and the office of the administrator for the courts, shall submit a report to
the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature regarding the content and
implementation status of the state's plan for cross-system collaboration to promote
educational stability and improve educational outcomes for foster children pursuant to the
requirements of the federal fostering connections to success and increasing adoptions act,
P.L. 110-351. The annual report must include, but is not limited to, information regarding:
i. A description of the process used to determine students' best interest in continued
enrollment at the school the student was in at the time of initial placement or
change of placement;
(2) The number of days, following initial placement or change of placement, to
resume school at the school the student was in at the time of initial placement or
change of placement or complete new school enrollment and attend at a new
school;
(3) The number of days from request to delivery of school records from the sending
school to the receiving school; and
(4) Documentation of a plan and use of federal title IV-E dollars to support
transportation for educational continuity as envisioned in the federal fostering
connections to success and increasing adoptions act, P.L. 110-351.
3.
Number of staff associated with this program/service (indicate where applicable):
# of OSPI staff associated with this funding (FTEs):
# of contractors/other staff associated with this funding:
FY 13 Funding:
State Appropriation:
Fiscal Year 2013
1
0
$128,000
4.
Is continued funding needed in the next biennium? Yes
5.
What is the current status of this program’s implementation? The program was started in SFY2013.
6.
When will the project be completed? On-going
7.
First year funded: 2013
8.
State funding since inception:
Fiscal Year
FY13
Amount
$128,000
9.
Major challenges faced by the program: Continuation of funding is necessary for the program to
continue.
10.
Statutory and/or Budget language: Budget Proviso 3ESHB 2127, Sec. 501 (1) (m) $128,000 of the
general fund -- state appropriation for fiscal year 2013 is provided solely pursuant to SHB 2254
(Foster Care Outcomes). OSPI shall report on the implementation of the state’s plan of cross-system
collaboration to promote educational stability and improve education outcomes of foster youth.
Reports are due in December annually.