Institutional Education

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:

Education Advocate

Education Advocates provide counseling support, case management, academic and vocational coaching, and referral to youth who have been previously incarcerated or diverted from the juvenile justice system. They also provide these supports to those who have dropped out of school to successfully transition back to schools, vocational training, college, GED programs, or jobs.   

Children & Families of Incarcerated Parents

Children and Families of Incarcerated Parents Support aims to provide information and technical assistance to parents, families, teachers, school administrators and the public, in order to improve services to those children with parents in prison.

Institutional Education Funding

Title I, Part D of the Every Student Succeeds Act specifies that federal funds are to be allocated to state education agencies. Funding for the programs 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. In addition to Title I, Part D federal funding, the state provides funding via apportionment to institutional education programs for basic education. 

Institutional Education Data Collection

Under RCW 28A.190.110 OSPI is required to annually collect and post data related to Institutional Education (IE) programs.

Institutional Education Programs

• Individualized education programs;
• Access to relevant instruction that is aligned with the youth's high school and beyond plan and any unmet graduation requirements;
• Student attendance;
• Metrics of student education status upon the beginning of residency in an institutional education facility;
• Student education progress during residency in an institutional education facility;
• Student education attainment during residency in an institutional education facility; and
• Long-term education and workforce outcomes of youth in and released from institutional education facilities as provided annually by the education data center under RCW 43.41.400.

Annual Institutional Education Program Data

Institutional Education Program Data 2025

Institutional Education Quarterly Meeting

Resources

State Legislation

• Education programs for Juveniles in Adult Jails
• Residential Education Programs
• Education Programs for Juvenile Inmates
• Certificate of Educational Competence (GED)
• State Institutional Education Program Funding

State Organizations

• Washington State Institute for Public Policy
• Washington Courts
• Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

Legislative Reports & Studies

• Improving Institutional Education Outcomes: Final Report (E2SHB 1295)
• Institutional Education: Legislative Report (SHB 1701)
• Training for School Staff on Juvenile Sex and Kidnapping Offenders: House Bill 2101

National Resources

• U.S. Dept. of Education
• Correctional Education Association
• National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges
• National Criminal Justice Reference Service
• NDTAC: Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act