OSPI's building is closed to the public until further notice. OSPI will continue serving the public via phone, email, and the website.
See OSPI’s COVID-19 guidance and resources for educators, students, and families.
Washington state provides K–12 basic education services to incarcerated and previously incarcerated juveniles. The goal is to provide these students the opportunity to meet the same learning standards that all children in the state are expected to meet. OSPI oversees all nine Educational Service Districts and more than 25 school districts that provide these services to six programs:
To provide a safe and compassionate learning environment that empowers students to become productive citizens.
To engage in collaborative activism that will result in improved learning and performance of correctional education leaders, staff and students.
Funding for the programs is provided at the federal and the state level. Title I, Part D of the Every Student Succeeds Act specifies that federal funds are allocated to state education agencies. The funds are used to provide services needed to make a successful transition from institutionalization to further schooling, training or employment; to prevent at-risk youth from dropping out of school; and to provide them with a support system to ensure their continued education.
Because institutional education is a part of basic education, the state also provides funding to the programs. The funding is based on a formula calculated on pupil-to-staff funding ratios, but that formula hasn't changed enough to reflect the current needs of the students. In response, OSPI has in recent years convened two workgroups and published reports from each:
2020–21
Fall Training
Cancelled
Winter Training
February 4–5, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Deb Drandoff, ESD 112
Spring Training
May, 2021
Location: TBD
Host: Pending 2021 Student Support Conference
Summer Training
August 5–6, 2021
Location: TBD