(1) The legislature finds that fully realizing the potential of high school and beyond plans as meaningful tools for articulating and revising pathways for graduation will require additional school counselors and family coordinators. The legislature further finds that the development and implementation of an online electronic platform for high school and beyond plans will be an appropriate and supportive action that will assist students, parents and guardians, educators, and counselors as the legislature explores options for funding additional school counselors.
(2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall facilitate the creation of a list of available electronic platforms for the high school and beyond plan. Platforms eligible to be included on the list must meet the following requirements:
(a) Enable students to create, personalize, and revise their high school and beyond plan as required by RCW 28A.230.090;
(b) Grant parents or guardians, educators, and counselors appropriate access to students' high school and beyond plans;
(c) Employ a sufficiently flexible technology that allows for subsequent modifications necessitated by statutory changes, administrative changes, or both, as well as enhancements to improve the features and functionality of the platform;
(d) Include a sample financial aid letter and a link to the financial aid calculator created in RCW 28B.77.280, at such a time as those materials are finalized;
(e) Comply with state and federal requirements for student privacy;
(f) Allow for the portability between platforms so that students moving between school districts are able to easily transfer their high school and beyond plans; and
(g) To the extent possible, include platforms in use by school districts during the 2018-19 school year.
(3) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, each school district must ensure that an electronic high school and beyond plan platform is available to all students who are required to have a high school and beyond plan.
(4) The office of the superintendent of public instruction may adopt and revise rules as necessary to implement this section.
[ 2020 c 307 § 7; 2019 c 252 § 504.]
NOTES:
Intent—Conflict with federal requirements—2020 c 307: See notes following RCW 28B.77.290.
Intent—2019 c 252: See note following RCW 28A.655.250.