Policy 2108
Learning Assistance ProgramThe district, within its financial capacity, will offer a learning assistance programs that is designed to meet the needs of students who are not meeting academic standards.
The district’s learning assistance program will be designed to enhance educational opportunities for students enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade by providing supplemental instruction and services to those students. Students who are not meeting academic standards means students with the greatest academic deficits in basic skills as identified by statewide, school or district assessments, or other performance measurement tools.
Students’ Affected By COVID-19 Pandemic
HB1208 removes barriers to identifying eligible students and includes a transition period in which districts must focus on addressing needs of students that were created or exacerbated by COVID-19. Starting immediately and continuing until the expiration or termination of Proclamation 20-05 declaring a state of emergency for all counties in Washington due to COVID-19 or until September 1, 2025—whichever is later—the district will identify and address the academic and nonacademic needs of students resulting from and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Washington Integrated Student Supports Protocol
Beginning “as soon as possible” and continuing until September 1, 2025, the legislature recommends that LAP funds are budgeted and expended using Washington Integrated Student Supports Protocol. After September 1, 2025 or after the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency-whichever is later- the district must budget and expend funds using the WISSP framework established under RCW 28A.300.139.
Budgeting and expending LAP funding using the WISSP framework includes these components: (1) conducting needs assessments, (2) integrating and coordinating supports, (3) establishing community partnerships (see below)* and (4) using data-driven decision making.
*The district may use up to 15% of its learning assistance program allocation to deliver academic, nonacademic, and social-emotional supports and services to students through partnerships with community-based or other out-of-school organizations in accordance with RCW 28A.300.139.
If the district enters into an agreement with a community partner in accordance with RCW 28A.300.139, the agreement must do the following:
- Specify that learning assistance program funds may be used only to provide direct supports and services to students;
- Clearly identify the academic, nonacademic, or social-emotional supports and services that will be made available to students by the community partner and how those supports and services align to the needs of the students as identified in the student-level needs assessment required by RCW 28A.300.139; and
- Identify the in-school supports that will be reinforced by the supports and services provided by the community partner to promote student progress towards meeting academic standards.
Coordination with Other Programs
The district may coordinate federal, state, and local programs in order to serve the maximum number of students who are below grade level in basic skills. Students receiving assistance in another special needs program may also be served in the learning assistance program if they meet student eligibility and selection requirements.
Annual Report to OSPI
The district will submit an annual report by September 30th to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction detailing the following:
The amount of academic growth gained by students participating in the learning assistance program;
- The number of students who gain at least one year of academic growth;
- The specific practices, activities, and programs used by each school building that received learning assistance funds;
- The number of students served by the learning assistance program funding used to engage community partners, and the types of supports and services that are being provided; and
- The number of students served by the learning assistance program during the school year who were able to exit the program because student academic growth resulted in meeting the academic standard for grade level.
Cross References: 2104 Federal and/or State Funded Special Instructional Programs
2161 Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students
4130 Parent and Family Engagement
6100 Revenues from Local, State and Federal Sources
Legal References: RCW 28A.165 – Learning Assistance Program
WAC 392-162 -Special Program — Learning Assistance Program
SHB 1208, Chapter 111, Laws of 2021 Learning Assistance Program- Various Provisions
Management Resources: Policy News, June 2005 Learning Assistance Policy Updated
2018 – February Policy Issue
2021 – June Issue
La Center School District
Adopted: June 26th, 2007;
Revised November 22, 2016, February 22, 2022