YOUTH ADVOCACY HUB
SUMMARY
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Beginning in 2027, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will be responsible for the delivery and oversight of education to justice-involved students who are under age 21 and in institutional education programs.
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As part of this, OSPI will develop a timeline and plan for assuming these new responsibilities.
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The bill also creates a committee on Governance and Funding for Institutional Education to determine the best structure, funding formulas, and other elements needed to transfer to OSPI the responsibility and oversight of providing education to these students.
POINTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS BILL
What is institutional education?
Institutional education refers to the educational services provided to youth under the age of 21 who are currently in:
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Residential habilitation centers
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Long-term juvenile institutions
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Community facilities
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County detention centers
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The Department of Corrections
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County and city jails
Institutional education has never been given the attention or funding that is required. The current institutional education funding formula was created by the legislators who passed the 1995-1997 state budget. However the formula never actually made it to official state law. This has dictated funding levels for justice-involved youth for more than 20 years, and it was not based the actual, educational needs of these young people.
OSPI and the committee will be attempting to better understand the educational needs and related supports that justice-involved youth need in order to access their constitutional right to basic education. They will determine what laws they need to change or create in order to ensure these young people have the same access to a quality education as any other student in public K-12 schools. However, there is urgency in ensuring young people in institutional education settings are getting what they need. Some advocates believe these shifts must occur sooner than 2027 (four years from now).
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Steps to Get Started
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Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
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If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
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If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
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Spread the word and get other people on board.
Participating in a Hearing
Sign in Pro, Con, or Other
This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.
Submit Written Testimony
Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known, to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don't want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.
Testify Virtually
Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom.
Testify In Person
To testify on a bill in person, you must travel to Olympia and join the real-time committee hearing on the Capitol campus. You will also get between 1-2 minutes to state your opinion. This is often a powerful way to make an impression on legislators in the room.
Using the WA Legislature Website
