МОЛОДЕЖНЫЙ ЦЕНТР ЗАЩИТЫ
Senate Bill 5253
This bill would ensure special education students can access the full extent of their transition program after high school.
This bill is progressing.
BACKGROUND:
Washington current law allows qualifying special education students to receive special education and transition services until the end of the school year in which a student turns 21. In 2024, a court determined that this limitation violated the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and required Washington to takes steps to make sure they are complying, including providing special education and transition services to students until they turn 22.
SUMMARY:
This bill enables students receiving special education services to receive ongoing transition supports through their age 22 school year.
For example, if a student is part of a transition program after high school, they will be able to receive those supports through the end of their last year in the program, even if they turn 22 during that year. Their services and participation won't be cut off until they finish the year.
POINTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS BILL:
What are transition services/a transition program and why are they important?
Transition programs provide ongoing education to students past high school. They are designed to help students with disabilities reach their postsecondary goals and walk whatever pathway they choose, whether that be college, employment, certain life skills, and much more.
Sometimes young people and their families feel nervous about "aging out" of their transition program and no longer receiving services, especially when the cut-off of these supports can be abrupt when a student’s birthday comes. This bill would make state law consistent with federal but go a little further to enable students receiving transition services to finish out their age 22 school year before they lose eligibility for services.
This bill would make it better for students with disabilities to get the full extent of transition supports they need after high school and feel better prepared for their chosen pathway, whether that be getting a job, caring for their community, going to college, and much more.
For more information about transition services in Washington, you can visit OSPI's Transition Services page. You can also take a look at an example worksheet/checklist of some of the transition planning a transition student might do.
Ways to Get Involved
Steps to Get Started
Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
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.