WAC 250-100-010. Purpose

Recognizing the low college-going rates of youth in and alumni of foster care and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in Washington state, the legislature created the passport to careers program. The program's purpose is: (1) To encourage current and former youth in foster care and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness to prepare for, attend, and successfully complete higher education, a registered apprenticeship and/or preapprenticeship program; (2) To improve the high school graduation outcomes of youth in foster care and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness through coordinated P-20 and child welfare outreach, intervention, and planning; and (3) To improve postsecondary outcomes by providing current and former youth in foster care and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness with the educational planning, information, institutional support, and direct financial resources necessary for them to succeed in either higher education or a registered apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program.