Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Education Committee
HB 2056
Brief Description: Promoting academic transparency in public schools.
Sponsors: Representatives Steele, Dufault, Graham, Sutherland, Jacobsen and Eslick.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal compact schools to post on their websites the syllabi and instructional materials selected and used by each classroom teacher.
Hearing Date: 2/1/22
Staff: Megan Wargacki
Background:

Each school districts must adopt a policy assuring parents access to their child's classroom and school sponsored activities for purposes of observing class procedure, teaching material, and class conduct.  However, observation may not disrupt the classroom procedure or learning activity.

 

Each school district must adopt an instructional materials policy.  Among other requirements, the policy must establish a committee to recommend instructional materials to be approved or disapproved by the school district board of directors.  The committee must consist of members of the district's professional staff, including representation from the curriculum development committees, and may include parents (who must make up less than one-half of the committee membership).  The policy must also provide a system for receiving, considering, and acting upon written complaints regarding instructional materials used by the district.

Summary of Bill:

Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, each school district, charter school, and state-tribal compact school must annually post on its website the syllabi and instructional materials selected and used by each classroom teacher.  The syllabi and instructional materials must be posed by grade or course, as applicable, for each quarter or semester of the academic year.  Postings must be made by the end of the academic year or May 31, whichever is earlier, and apply to the academic year that is concluding at the time of posting.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 27, 2022.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.