SB 6511 — Increasing equitable educational outcomes for foster care and homeless children and youth from prekindergarten to postsecondary education.

S-6144.1SUBSTITUTES-5325.1SENATE SENATE BILL 6511State of Washington66th Legislature2020 Regular SessionBySenateSessionBySenators EarlyCarlyle, LearningWilson, &C., K-12Hunt, EducationHasegawa, (originallyNguyen, sponsoredand byZeigerRead Senatorsfirst Carlyle,time Wilson,01/20/20.Referred C.,to Hunt,Committee Hasegawa,on Nguyen,Early andLearning Zeiger)READ& FIRSTK-12 TIMEEducation.AN 02/07/20.AN ACT Relating to equitable educational outcomes for foster care and homeless children and youth from prekindergarten to postsecondary education;

The legislature further finds that this population of youth experience disproportionate suspension and expulsion rates and require special education services at much higher rates than their peers.(2) The legislature acknowledges that, as a result, only forty-six percent of Washington students whoin experienced foster care during high school and fifty-five percent of students experiencing homelessness graduated from high school on time in 2018 as compared to eighty percent of their peers.

The work group must implement a plan for studentschildren and youth in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or both, to achieve parity in educational outcomes and to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in educational outcomes with their general student population peers by 2027.(3)(a) The work group must annually review the educational outcomes of studentschildren and youth in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or both including:(i) Kindergarten readiness, early grade reading and math, eighth and ninth grade students on track to graduate, high school completion, postsecondary enrollment, and postsecondary completion;

If state funds are not made available, the work group may pursue private funding to ensure the completion of this report.(4) The work group must also:(a) Evaluate the outcomes, needs, and service array for studentschildren and youth in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or both, and the specific needs of studentschildren and youth of color and those with special education needs;(b) Engage stakeholders to provide input on the development of biannual recommendations, including studentsyouth experiencing foster care, homelessness, or both, foster parents and relative caregivers, birth parents, caseworkers, school districts and educators, early learning providers, postsecondary institutions, and federally recognized tribes.(5)(a) By October 31, 2020, and biannually thereafter, the work group shall submit a report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature regarding the collective progress the state has made toward educational parity for studentschildren and youth in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or both.(b)(i) The report must include progress made toward the following goals for students experiencing foster care, homelessness, or both:(A) Parity in kindergarten readiness rates;(B) Parity in high school graduation rates;(C) Parity in postsecondary education and state-approved apprenticeship enrollment;(D) Parity in postsecondary education and state-approved apprenticeship completion;

and(ii) The report must also include updates on individual agency and aligned nongovernmental agency actions and collective actions toward these goals and the effectiveness of support services for students experiencing foster care, homelessness, or both.(c)(i) The report must make recommendations to further align and improve policy, programs, agency practice, and supports for students and provide for shared and sustainable accountability to reach the goal of educational parity, including recommendations to:(A) Address systems barriers and improve educational stability;(B) Enforce existing state law that require that educational records, educational needs, individualized education programs, credits, and other records follow studentschildren and youth when they transition from district to district or another educational program or facility;(C) Improve racial equity in educational outcomes;(D) Ensure access to consistent and accurate annual educational outcomes data;

Confidential information received by the work group retains its confidentiality and may not be further disseminated except as allowed under federal and state law.(7)law.Sec. For purposes of this section, "students in foster care" and "students experiencing homelessness" means students who are currently, or have been, homeless or in foster care within five years of when the plan described in subsection (2) of this section is applied to the students.Sec.