WHEREAS, Washington History Day is a year-long education program that empowers teachers to improve history education, so that every student has the historical understanding and skills to be an active and engaged citizen; and
     WHEREAS, Washington History Day, the state affiliate of National History Day, helps young Washington State students develop an appreciation of their heritage and essential skills that help them succeed in school, college, and the workplace; and
     WHEREAS, National History Day began in 1974 and was hailed as a revolutionary way to teach history and quickly expanded into the nation's largest and most respected history education program with hundreds of thousands of students participating annually; and
     WHEREAS, Washington History Day began in 1977 and has been an important component of history education statewide; and
     WHEREAS, More than 4,000 students, encouraged and guided by more than 125 teachers, participate in the Washington History Day program; and
     WHEREAS, National History Day has developed one of the nation's premier professional development models to teach educators how to improve and reform the way history is taught in America's schools; and
     WHEREAS, National History Day research and products can be used to fulfill required classroom-based assessments in social studies in the State of Washington; and
     WHEREAS, The Presidential Committee on Arts and Humanities report, Creative America, highlighted National History Day and named it an "exemplary program"; and
     WHEREAS, National History Day received the Charles Frankel Prize for public programming in the humanities from the National Endowment of the Humanities; and
     WHEREAS, The Washington History Day and National History Day programs will continue to highlight student achievement at a state student contest every May in Washington State and a national student contest every June at the University of Maryland;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives acknowledge the achievements of Washington History Day in advancing historical literacy and American citizenship, and support the goals and programs of Washington History Day and National History Day; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Lauren Danner, State Coordinator of Washington History Day.