Educational clinics, as defined by Washington State law, are private organizations that teach basic academic skills and provide employment orientation in an individualized way to high school dropouts aged 13 to 19. The Educational Clinics Program was authorized by the state legislature in 1977, after extensive lobbying by members of a private firm specializing in academic remediation. The legislation was opposed by established educational interests, including the state superintendent of instruction. The law authorized state financial support for remediation for youth aged 16 through 19 who had either dropped out of school or were academically at risk and were referred by their schools. The law also provided that only state-certified teachers could staff the clinics, that enrollment in clinics should be limited to a fixed time period, and that payments to clinics should be based on performance. Over time, under heavy state monitoring, the clinics program has demonstrated significant results in both performance and cost. After initial opposition, clinics were incorporated into the state education agency's organization and budget and into local school systems' options for dropouts. (29 endnotes) (Author/MLH)