Bill > SB5210

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 who are at risk of not graduating. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, OSPI will award grants to public schools, prioritizing those with low ninth grade on-track scores and below-average graduation rates. The grants will fund ninth grade success teams that regularly review student data on attendance, behavior, and grades to identify and intervene when students are struggling. Grant recipients can use funds for additional compensation for team members, professional development, substitute teacher coverage, and student support services. Schools receiving grants must have teams that provide targeted interventions and coaching to help ninth graders succeed. 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 legislation is based on a successful pilot program launched in 2019 that demonstrated significant increases in ninth grade on-track rates across participating schools.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5210&Year=2025&Initiative=false