BILL REQ. #:  H-4999.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/03/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to requiring a study of school district curriculum; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that in the global economy of the twenty-first century, all students, regardless of their own background, must be prepared to interact successfully with people from a wide variety of cultures.
     (2) The legislature also finds that results from the Washington assessment of student learning show a persistent pattern of underachievement by many students of color, even though it is clear that these students are innately no less intelligent or capable than their peers. While there are multiple causes for this pattern, one cause may be the lack of a curriculum that accurately includes the history, contributions, and contemporary experiences of people of color. The absence of such a curriculum may lead students of color to conclude that school is not relevant to their lives and that the education system does not value them.
     (3) The absence of curriculum that accurately includes diverse cultures also constricts the ability of all students to succeed in the culturally diverse world of the twenty-first century.
     (4) It is the intent of the legislature that every student in Washington should see his or her culture fully and accurately included in the public school curriculum in every grade, and that all students should learn about the cultures and histories of all of their peers in the state and the world. To make progress toward achieving this goal, the legislature requires additional information about the degree to which school districts have such a curriculum and what barriers may impede them from adopting and using such a curriculum.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The college of education at the University of Washington shall conduct a review of the curriculum offered by public schools in Washington. The review shall examine the degree to which the curriculum accurately includes the history, contributions, and contemporary experiences of people of color. The review shall also identify barriers that may impede schools and school districts from successfully adopting and using such a curriculum.
     (2) The college shall submit a report to the education committees of the legislature by December 1, 2007, including findings and recommendations for strategies and policies that could improve the public school curriculum.