Brief Description: Requiring that Washington's tribal history be taught in the common schools.

Sponsors: Representatives McCoy, Roach, Simpson, P. Sullivan, McDermott, Santos, Appleton, Darneille, Williams, Hunt, Haigh, Chase, Sells, Conway, Kenney, Kagi, Moeller, Ormsby and Blake.

Hearing Date: 2/9/05

Staff: Sydney Forrester (786-7120).

Background:

Washington has a rich Native American heritage that dates back thousands of years. There currently are 29 federally-recognized Indian tribes whose reservations are located in Washington. The Governor's Office of Indian Affairs reports an additional seven tribes in Washington who are non-federally recognized.

Washington's high school graduation requirements include a minimum of one-half credit of course work in Washington state history and government. Courses designed to meet this requirement are encouraged to include information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indians who were the first inhabitants of Washington.

Summary of Bill:

Each school district must incorporate the history and culture of one or more federally-recognized Indian tribes into its curriculum for each grade level in which Washington State and United States history is taught. A school district with all or a portion of a tribal reservation within its boundaries, must teach the history and culture of the tribe or tribes. A school district with no portion of a tribal reservation within its boundaries, must teach the history and culture of the federally-recognized Indian tribe or tribes whose traditional lands and territories lie within a one hundred-mile radius of the district boundaries. The Superintendent of Public Instruction must assist school districts in determining the location of tribal reservations and traditional lands and territories.

The history and culture curricula must be approved by the district and the tribe, and school districts must collaborate with the tribe to develop and implement the required curricula. A teacher, in order to teach a tribe's curriculum, must have completed the tribe's certification program, or be otherwise approved by the tribe.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.