Bill > SB5850

This bill aims to support students who are chronically absent and at risk of not graduating high school. The key provisions are: 1. It requires educational service districts to work with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop training and coaching for educators on early warning systems to identify and support chronically absent students. "Necessary supports" for these students may include engagement with families, academic/systemic/economic supports, adequate clothing and nutrition, transportation, and connecting them to health services. 2. It expands the Building Bridges program, which provides grants to local partnerships of schools, families, and communities for comprehensive dropout prevention and intervention, including supports for chronically absent students. The grants can be used for proactive family engagement, communication, home visits, and incentives/celebrations for improved attendance and engagement. 3. It updates requirements for the Building Bridges program, including using statewide student assessment scores rather than the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, and allows the Office of the Superintendent to require grant recipients to report on the program's impacts. 4. It expands the definition of "dropout reengagement programs" to include academic-related supports like covering test fees and school supplies, as well as non-academic supports like transportation and access to food and health services.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5850&Year=2023&Initiative=false