Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 28A.190 - Residential Education Programs.
28A.190.130 - Institutional educational system—Recommendations—Designated entity—Advisory group—Report.

RCW 28A.190.130
Institutional educational system—Recommendations—Designated entity—Advisory group—Report. (Expires June 30, 2023.)

(1)(a) The office of the superintendent of public instruction and the department of children, youth, and families shall jointly develop recommendations for the establishment, implementation, and funding of a reformed institutional education system that successfully meets the education and support needs of persons in and released from secure settings. Recommendations developed under this subsection (1) must be based on the foundational concept that every student can succeed if given the necessary supports. With the exception of funding recommendations required by (a)(ii) of this subsection (1), the recommendations developed under this subsection (1) should be directed toward meeting the education needs of persons who are in or have been released from state long-term juvenile institutions and community facilities operated by the department of children, youth, and families, county juvenile detention centers, and facilities of the department of corrections that incarcerate juveniles committed as adults. The recommendations must address:
(i) The establishment of an organizational and accountability structure for institutional education that is focused on meeting complex student needs and improving student outcomes;
(ii) The establishment of an equitable, long-term funding model for institutional education that sustainably supports the organizational and accountability structure established under (a)(i) of this subsection (1); and
(iii) The development of a regular and ongoing review of system performance and education outcomes.
(b) The recommendations developed under this subsection (1) must also include the following:
(i) The content and structure of common education, information, and support systems that would include a common, culturally competent curriculum, improve system efficacy, and minimize the negative academic impacts of transitions;
(ii) A coordinated staffing model for institutional education facility and institutional education provider operations and effectiveness in meeting student needs, and a mechanism for developing subsequent recommendations for improvements to the model;
(iii) Practices to ensure that there is a robust program of education advocates for youth in all institutional education facilities;
(iv) Practices for shared data tracking and goal setting for youth progress and learning needs;
(v) Promoting the effective delivery of tiered supports in institutional education facilities in coordination with state and county facility operators, institutional education providers, and community-based organizations delivering those services;
(vi) Promoting the development of an operational safety strategy for safe learning environments for students and staff;
(vii) Promoting operations that prioritize education delivery;
(viii) Maximizing youth and postresident youth access to: (A) Career and technical education and postsecondary education pathways that occur at institutional education facilities and at off-site locations; and (B) mastery-based learning that leads to credit accrual and graduation pathways;
(ix) Establishing new or modified requirements and procedures for the successful release of youth from institutional education facilities by recommending an effective team-based transition process with identified preresident and postresident transition services and supports that include, but are not limited to, basic needs, social-emotional support, and academic support;
(x) Establishing and supporting youth advisory, leadership, and mentoring programs to ensure pathways for youth and postresident youth involvement and development;
(xi) Identifying and establishing culturally responsive parent engagement strategies that support the education and well-being of youth and postresident youth and families;
(xii) Examining and expanding opportunities to include enrichment activities in institutional education programs and offer enrichment opportunities that promote academic and career goals; and
(xiii) Developing partnerships with postsecondary institutions, career and technical education programs, and community-based organizations, and identify ways to incorporate those partnerships into education services delivered by institutional education providers.
(c) In developing the recommendations required by this subsection (1), the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the department of children, youth, and families shall consult with the advisory group established in subsection (3) of this section.
(2) The superintendent of public instruction and the secretary of the department of children, youth, and families shall, by August 15, 2021, jointly designate an entity to facilitate the process of developing recommendations required by subsection (1) of this section, and the advisory group established in subsection (3) of this section. The office of the superintendent of public instruction is responsible for contracts or other agreements necessary to secure the services of the designated entity. The designated entity must: (a) Be a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization with content expertise in improving education for incarcerated young people, including education program delivery, system structure, accountability, and school finance; and (b) have experience facilitating complex cross-agency facilitation.
(3)(a) The institutional education structure and accountability advisory group is established for the purpose of providing advice, assistance, and information to the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the department of children, youth, and families in meeting the requirements of subsection (1) of this section. The advisory group must consist of representatives from the following, but other members may be added by request of the superintendent of public instruction or the secretary of the department of children, youth, and families:
(i) The state board of education;
(ii) The department of social and health services;
(iii) A statewide organization representing counties;
(iv) The administrative office of the courts;
(v) The office of the education ombuds;
(vi) The educational opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee;
(vii) A statewide organization representing teachers;
(viii) A statewide organization representing classified education staff;
(ix) Nonprofit organizations representing the interest of youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system;
(x) Persons who are or have been involved in the juvenile justice system and their families; and
(xi) A statewide organization representing state employees.
(b) In recognition of the need to ensure representation on the advisory group, persons serving under (a)(x) of this subsection are eligible for travel expense reimbursement. Other members of the advisory group are not entitled to expense reimbursement.
(4) Staff support for the advisory group must be provided by the entity selected under subsection (2) of this section.
(5)(a) Recommendations required by this section must, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036, be provided to the governor and the education and fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate, by November 1, 2022. The recommendations should include a plan and a phased timeline for their implementation in different types of institutional education facilities, including state long-term juvenile institutions, state-operated community facilities, residential habilitation centers, and county juvenile detention centers.
(b) By December 15, 2021, the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the department of children, youth, and families shall, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036, provide an interim report on progress made in achieving the requirements of this section to the governor and the education and fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate.
(6) This section expires June 30, 2023.

[ 2021 c 164 § 14.]
NOTES:

Findings—Intent—2021 c 164: See note following RCW 28A.190.005.