BILL REQ. #:  S-4268.1 

Read first time 01/19/2006.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to studying environmental education; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The office of superintendent of public instruction shall conduct an environmental education study in partnership with public and private entities invested in strategies to reach every student, family, and community with quality environmental education experiences. The study shall provide empirical evidence, exemplary models, and recommendations focused on:
     (a) Career development;
     (b) Good citizenship as proven through service learning;
     (c) Graduation requirements, specifically addressing senior culminating projects;
     (d) Underserved youth and demographic groups; and
     (e) Models of professional development for community-based service organizations including state and local agencies.
     (2) The study in this section shall provide findings and recommendations useful to the Washington state comprehensive environmental education plan, a comprehensive public-private endeavor to develop local and statewide strategies to ensure quality outdoor environmental education opportunities for every student, family, and community in Washington.
     (3) By studying the concepts in this section, the study shall evaluate how environmental education benefits Washington's students, families, and communities. Outdoor environmental education provides relevant quality education set in real world contexts of the built, natural, cultural, social, and economic environments. It provides opportunities for direct natural experiences to help Washington's youth develop self-esteem and personal responsibility. Washington benefits from exemplary environmental education programs and public-private environmental education partnerships across the state including outdoor, agriculture, forestry, angling and hunting, cultural competency, natural resource, natural science, and wildlife education programs. The study will be useful in identifying outdoor environmental education opportunities for Washington's students, families, and communities.
     (4) The office of superintendent of public instruction shall provide an interim update to the legislature by December 1, 2006, and shall complete the study no later than October 1, 2007.