Establishing empowerED scholarships for foster care students using educational savings accounts.

HB 2719 creates the empowerED scholarship program, providing education savings accounts for foster care students in Washington state (ages 5-21) who are in care or have aged out. The program allows foster parents, caregivers, or guardians to use state-funded accounts - managed via a state-administered debit card - to cover qualified education expenses at private schools, home-based instruction, or other approved services. It explicitly permits religious private schools to participate, aligning with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on education funding. The bill aims to address educational instability faced by foster care students by ensuring funding follows the student across placements, with strict oversight to prevent misuse of funds.