(1) The provisions of this section apply only to an offender released from confinement who:

(a) Was convicted of a violent offense or sex offense as those terms are defined in RCW 9.94A.030;

(b) Is twenty-one years of age or younger at the time of release; and

(c) Has not received a high school diploma or its equivalent.

(2) At the earliest practicable date, and in no event later than thirty days before release from confinement, the department must provide written notification of the release of an offender described in subsection (1) of this section to the designated recipient of the school where the offender:

(a) Was enrolled prior to incarceration or detention; or

(b) Has expressed an intention to enroll following his or her release.

(3) If after providing notification as required under subsection (2) of this section, the release of an offender described in subsection (1) of this section is delayed, the department must inform the designated recipient of the modified release date.

(4) This section applies whenever an offender is being released from total confinement, regardless if the release is to parole, community custody, work release placement, or furlough.

(5) For the purposes of this section, “designated recipient” means: (a) The superintendent of the school district, or his or her designee, of a common school as defined in RCW 28A.150.020 or a school that is the subject of a state-tribal education compact under chapter 28A.715 RCW; (b) the administrator of a charter public school governed by chapter 28A.710 RCW; or (c) the administrator of a private school approved under chapter 28A.195 RCW.