Bill > HB1151

This bill establishes a permanent ninth grade success grant program administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to help high schools support students at risk of not graduating. The program, starting in the 2025-26 school year, will provide grants to public schools with low ninth grade on-track scores or graduation rates below the state average, prioritizing schools across different geographic regions. Grant recipients can use funds to create ninth grade success teams that regularly review student data on attendance, behavior, and grades to identify and intervene with struggling students. These teams can receive additional compensation, professional development, and resources to support ninth graders. The grants can cover costs like team member stipends, training, hiring substitute teachers, and providing student supports. The legislature cites research showing that ninth grade is a critical year, with students who pass all their ninth grade classes being up to four times more likely to graduate. The bill requires OSPI to submit annual reports to the governor and education committees from 2026 to 2030, detailing grant recipients, student demographics, on-track scores, graduation rates, and recommendations for program improvement. The program builds on a successful pilot initiative launched in 2019 that demonstrated significant increases in ninth grade on-track rates across participating schools.

Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1151&Year=2025&Initiative=false