HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1486

BYRepresentatives Pruitt, Holm, Walker, Cooper, Rasmussen, Ebersole, Holland, Anderson, Heavey, Crane, P. King, May, Sanders and Spanel

Requiring school districts to provide for citizenship education.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Butterfield, Cole, Cooper, Fuhrman, Holm, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rust, Todd, Valle and Walker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn and Taylor.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION JANUARY 26, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In the past two years there has been renewed interest in being sure that students understand their role as citizens in a democratic society.  Various reports issued by agencies and associations, such as the United State Department of Education, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of School Boards of Directors, have suggested that students lack a basic understanding of how a democratic society works and the importance of citizenship involvement.  A number of school districts and states have begun to develop citizenship education programs to assure that basic concepts and skills important to a democratic society are taught to our students.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The board of directors of each school district shall adopt a comprehensive plan by September 1, 1989, to include citizenship education in the curriculum of the school district including instruction in each of the following areas:  academic disciplines, values education, societal education and experiential citizenship education.

A citizenship advisory committee shall be appointed by the board of directors for each first class school district.  The committee, composed of teachers, administrators, parents, school board members, and members of local government, shall advise the board on the development of citizenship education plans and annually review and make recommendations for change.  Recommendations for change shall be submitted to the board of directors by July 1 of each year beginning in 1989.

Up to one-half credit for contemporary world history, geography and problems may be earned by a student participating in a community service project, so long as the project does not involve a political campaign or religious activity and the school district's board of directors has adopted a policy or procedure identifying the criteria and process for credit approval.

To fulfill the mandated program offerings in social studies at each grade level, a district may offer and count citizenship education.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  All provisions relating to requiring citizenship education to count toward fulfilling high school graduation requirements and mandated program offerings are eliminated.

Provisions requiring the inclusion of values education in the citizenship education curriculum are eliminated.

The date for adopting a comprehensive citizenship education plan is moved from September 1, 1988 to September 1, 1989.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 19, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Wes Pruitt; Kate McPherson, Project Service Leadership; John Kvamme, Tacoma School District; David Lange, Tacoma School District; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Good citizenship involves an understanding of how our system of government works, a sense of history, a sense of responsibility and respect for others.  This can best be achieved by teaching our children these important attributes in school either through direct instruction or community participation.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.