K-12 Education Spending and Student Outcomes: A Review of the Evidence

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy updated its findings on a key public policy question for the Washington State legislature: does spending more money on the K–12 school system lead to better student outcomes? To investigate, we conducted a systematic review of research by analyzing all scientifically rigorous studies we could find on the topic.

Inventory of Evidence-Based, Research-Based, and Promising Practices

Inventory of Evidence-Based, Research-Based, and Promising Practices
For Prevention and Intervention Services for Children and Juveniles
in the Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, and Mental Health Systems

The 2012 Legislature passed E2SHB 2536 with the intention that “prevention and intervention services delivered to children and juveniles in the areas of mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice be primarily evidence-based and research-based, and it is anticipated that such services will be provided in a manner that is culturally competent.”

The bill directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) and the University of Washington Evidence-Based Practice Institute (UW) to publish descriptive definitions and prepare an inventory of evidence-based, research-based, and promising practices and services, and to periodically update the inventory as more practices are identified. Under E2SHB 2536, the inventory, published here, will be used by Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA) to complete a baseline assessment to determine whether their current programs and services are evidence-based or research-based. By December 30, 2013, DSHS and HCA will report to the Governor and the legislature on strategies to increase the use of evidence-based and research-based practices.

How Does Washington State's Learning Assistance Program Impact Student Outcomes? Final Report

Washington State provides supplemental funding to school districts through the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) to help students at-risk of not meeting state learning standards. The state Quality Education Council (QEC) makes recommendations to the legislature regarding basic education, including LAP. The QEC requested that the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) study the impact of LAP-funded remediation strategies on student achievement.

The Institute published a preliminary report in December 2011, finding that the state’s K–12 data system does not reliably identify which students receive LAP-funded services. In response, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) modified district reporting requirements to ensure that LAP students will be identified in state data from 2011-12 and beyond.

This final Institute report describes how LAP is implemented in Washington State, and presents results from a school-level analysis of the association between LAP and student outcomes.

Confinement for Technical Violations of Community Supervision: Is There an Effect on Felony Recidivism?

The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) has jurisdiction over offenders when a superior court orders community supervision. While on supervision, offenders must adhere to conditions such as reporting regularly to their Community Corrections Officer (CCO). If conditions are violated, DOC may impose sanctions ranging from reprimands to confinement. Between fiscal years 2002 and 2008, approximately 72 percent of all offenders who had a violation received confinement as a sanction.

We investigate whether the use of confinement—as a sanction for a violation—has an impact on recidivism.

Independent Youth Housing Program for Former Foster Youth: Outcomes for Participants

The Independent Youth Housing Program (IYHP) was created in 2007 by Washington’s legislature to provide housing assistance and case management for former foster youth ages 18 to 23. In the current biennium, $1,800,000 is budgeted for IYHP.

The legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a study measuring outcomes for youth participating in IYHP. For this study, we identified former foster youth who received IYHP during fiscal year 2010 and looked at their use of state-paid services, and arrests and employment during fiscal year 2011.

Teacher Compensation and Training Policies: Impacts on Student Outcomes

Washington State’s Quality Education Council (QEC) was created by the legislature to make recommendations regarding basic education policy and finance. The legislature also directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) to provide research support to the QEC. This report summarizes six research reviews of the impacts of teacher compensation and training policies on student outcomes (measured by test scores).

Return on Investment: Evidence-Based Options to Improve Statewide Outcomes
April 2012 Update

The 2009 Washington Legislature directed the Institute to “calculate the return on investment to taxpayers from evidence-based prevention and intervention programs and policies.” The Legislature instructed the Institute to produce “a comprehensive list of programs and policies that improve . . . outcomes for children and adults in Washington and result in more cost-efficient use of public resources.” This report summarizes our findings as of April 2012. Readers can download the technical appendix for details about our methods.

Preliminary Report: Did Expanding Eligibility for the Family Caregiver Support Program Reduce the Use of Long-Term Care?

A family caregiver voluntarily cares for a parent, spouse, partner, or another adult relative or friend. The assistance that family caregivers provide may allow care recipients to remain at home rather than in long-term care. The Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) provides resources and services to unpaid family caregivers in Washington State. In concert with the state’s 13 Area Agencies on Aging, the FCSP provides information and outreach; screening, assessment, consultation, coordination of services, and caregiver support services and resources. The program directly served 5,800 caregivers in fiscal year (FY) 2011. For fiscal year 2012, the legislature increased funding for FCSP to expand in-depth services to more caregivers. The legislature also directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to work with DSHS to establish and review outcome measures associated with the FCSP expansion. The goal of the study is to assess whether the expansion of this program delays entry of care recipients into Medicaid-paid long-term care. This report gives a brief description of the program and outlines the approach to evaluation. A final report will be published by August 30, 2012

Transforming Child Welfare in Washington State: Performance-Based Contracting

The 2009 Washington State Legislature passed Second Substitute House Bill 2106, requiring the Children’s Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services to:

• Convert existing contracts with service providers to performance-based contracts and reduce the overall number of contracts; and

• Set up two demonstration sites to compare child welfare case management by private agencies with child welfare case management by DSHS employees.

The legislation also established the Child Welfare Transformation Design Committee to advise DSHS in this effort. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) was directed to report on the transition to performance-based contracts and, in 2015, evaluate the outcomes of case management performed by private agencies compared with that of DSHS employees.

This initial report to the legislature and governor provides a brief description of the legislation and an overview of the progress to date in converting and consolidating CA contracts. The Institute will provide a final report on performance-based contracts in June 2012, and an evaluation report of the demonstration project in April 2015.

"What Works" in Community Supervision: Interim Report

The Department of Corrections contracted with the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to examine effective community supervision practices of offenders. In this interim report, we provide background information on community supervision as it is delivered in Washington. We also summarize our findings to date on our systematic review of the literature regarding “what works” for community supervision.