BILL REQ. #:  S-0853.1 

Read first time 02/01/2005.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to teaching Washington's tribal history, culture, and government in the common schools; amending RCW 28A.230.090; adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) Social studies and civics is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote involvement in civic affairs, and because civic issues are multidisciplinary in nature, understanding these issues and developing resolutions to them require multidisciplinary education;
     (2) The primary purpose of social studies and civics is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in a diverse world;
     (3) Cross-cultural respect and understanding are fostered through a culturally rich curriculum and instruction;
     (4) Teaching Washington state tribal history and culture can be a critical factor in successful educational experiences and promoting cultural sensitivity for all students. The effect is particularly strong for Native American students;
     (5) Within the twenty-nine federally recognized tribes whose traditional lands and territories reach across and beyond the boundaries of Washington state, there are more than fifty tribal nations represented with uniquely diverse histories, languages, and cultures;
     (6) The full and remarkable history of the state of Washington has never been compiled nor taught in our state's education system;
     (7) The potential to have a positive impact on student learning is in part dependent upon the willingness of the local education agency to collaborate with sovereign tribal governments; and
     (8) Tribes possess the ultimate authority and expertise of their history and culture.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.230.090 and 2004 c 19 s 103 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The state board of education shall establish high school graduation requirements or equivalencies for students.
     (a) Any course in Washington state history and government used to fulfill high school graduation requirements ((is encouraged to)) shall include information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indian peoples who were the first inhabitants of the state.
     (b) The certificate of academic achievement requirements under RCW 28A.655.061 or the certificate of individual achievement requirements under RCW 28A.155.045 are required for graduation from a public high school but are not the only requirements for graduation.
     (c) Any decision on whether a student has met the state board's high school graduation requirements for a high school and beyond plan shall remain at the local level.
     (2) In recognition of the statutory authority of the state board of education to establish and enforce minimum high school graduation requirements, the state board shall periodically reevaluate the graduation requirements and shall report such findings to the legislature in a timely manner as determined by the state board.
     (3) Pursuant to any requirement for instruction in languages other than English established by the state board of education or a local school district, or both, for purposes of high school graduation, students who receive instruction in American sign language or one or more American Indian languages shall be considered to have satisfied the state or local school district graduation requirement for instruction in one or more languages other than English.
     (4) If requested by the student and his or her family, a student who has completed high school courses before attending high school shall be given high school credit which shall be applied to fulfilling high school graduation requirements if:
     (a) The course was taken with high school students, if the academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth grade classes, and the student has successfully passed by completing the same course requirements and examinations as the high school students enrolled in the class; or
     (b) The academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth grade classes and the course would qualify for high school credit, because the course is similar or equivalent to a course offered at a high school in the district as determined by the school district board of directors.
     (5) Students who have taken and successfully completed high school courses under the circumstances in subsection (4) of this section shall not be required to take an additional competency examination or perform any other additional assignment to receive credit.
     (6) At the college or university level, five quarter or three semester hours equals one high school credit.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By January 1, 2015, or when a school district reviews or adopts its social studies curriculum, whichever is sooner, the school district must incorporate into its history and social studies curricula for each grade in which the district offers instruction on Washington state and United States history, the tribally and district-approved history and culture curriculum of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation in whole or in part sits within the boundaries of the school district. If a district has no portion of a tribal reservation located within its boundaries, the district must incorporate into its curricula the tribally and district-approved history and culture curriculum of the federally recognized Indian tribes whose traditional lands and territories are within a one hundred mile radius of the school district. The program of Indian education within the office of the superintendent of public instruction must assist school districts in determining the location of tribal reservations and traditional lands and territories.
     (2) A school district must collaborate with the Indian tribe to develop and implement the history and culture curriculum required under subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) The tribal history and culture curriculum required under this section may be taught only by a teacher who has completed that tribe's first people's language and culture teacher certification program, or by a teacher who has been approved by the respective tribe whose curriculum is to be taught.