SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6262

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Early Learning & K-12 Education, February 7, 2020

Title: An act relating to the teaching of Washington's tribal history, culture, and government.

Brief Description: Teaching Washington's tribal history, culture, and government.

Sponsors: Senators McCoy, Wellman, Kuderer, Hasegawa, Lovelett, Stanford, Wilson, C., Conway, Das, Nguyen, Van De Wege, Darneille and Hunt.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/29/20, 2/07/20 [DPS, w/oRec, DNP].

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

Requires that all school districts incorporate curricula about the history, culture, and government of the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into social studies curricula by September 1, 2022.
Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to develop and utilize a system to monitor and report on district implementation and compliance of tribal curricula requirements.
Establishes that all administrator preparation programs integrate information on tribal culture, history, and government into existing programs or courses.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6262 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Wilson, C., Vice Chair; Hunt, McCoy, Mullet, Pedersen and Salomon.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Hawkins, Ranking Member; Holy and Padden.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senator Wagoner.

Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)

Background: Native American Curriculum. In 2011, the Legislature directed OSPI to create the Office of Native Education (ONE). ONE is required to perform several functions, including providing assistance to school districts in meeting the educational needs of Native American students, and facilitating the development and implementation of curricula and instructional materials in native languages, culture and history, and the concept of tribal sovereignty.

The Native American curriculum, titled the Since Time Immemorial (STI) curriculum, was developed by ONE in partnership with public and private agencies and several of the 29 federally recognized Indian tribes whose reservations are located in Washington. The STI supports teaching tribal sovereignty, tribal history, and current tribal issues within existing history and other courses at the elementary, middle, and high-school levels. STI curriculum is available online free of charge from OSPI.

In 2015, legislation was enacted to require school districts to incorporate the STI curriculum when reviewing or adopting social studies curriculum. In addition, districts must collaborate with local tribes to incorporate curriculum materials and to create programs of classroom and community cultural exchanges.

Teacher and Administrator Preparation Programs. The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is tasked with creating certification requirements for K-12 teachers and school administrators. PESB is in charge of setting standard and program approval for teacher and administrator preparation programs in public and private higher education institutions. Generally, most routes to certification include education requirements as well as graduation from a PESB-approved certification program.

In 1993, the Legislature enacted legislation mandating that teacher preparation program courses in Washington State or Pacific Northwest history, required by statute, incorporate information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indian peoples who were the first human inhabitants of the state and the region.

In 2018, the Legislature required teacher preparation programs to integrate the STI curriculum into existing programs or courses and allowed programs to modify the curriculum in order to incorporate elements that have a more regionally specific focus.

Summary of Bill (First Substitute): By September 1, 2022, all school districts must incorporate curricula about the history, culture, and government of the nearest federally recognized tribe or tribes into social studies curricula. In addition, OSPI shall develop and utilize a system to monitor and report on district implementation and compliance with tribal curricula provisions.

In addition, administrator preparation programs in Washington must include information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indian peoples who were the first human inhabitants of the state and region by integrating the tribal curriculum developed by OSPI into existing programs or courses. Administrator preparation programs may modify the curriculum in order to incorporate elements that have a regionally specific focus.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE (First Substitute):

Removes requirement that administrator preparation programs have a separate course on tribal culture, history, and government.
Requires that administrator programs integrate information on tribal culture, history, and government into existing programs or courses.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: Integrating the curriculum into administrative programs is a continuation of work done over the last 15 years. There is a need to make sure that districts are aware of all relevant tribal histories, whether or not one tribe is taking the lead on consultation. There is a large diversity in tribes and tribal cultures in Washington that should be reflected in curriculum. The Since Time Immemorial curriculum is critical for education in our state; however it may not be needed as a separate course for administrator programs. The resources exist to have districts implement this curriculum and the bill provides a hard deadline to do just that.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator John McCoy, Prime Sponsor; Rodney Cawston, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation; Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association; Laura Lynn, OSPI; Bill Kallappa, State Board of Education; Bob Cooper, Washington Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; Roz Thompson, Association of Washington School Principals.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.