1495-SAMSEKHEAMS3035.1SHB 1495S COMM AMDBy Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher EducationADOPTED AS AMENDED 04/07/2005 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert thefollowing:NEW SECTION.Sec. It is the intent of the legislature topromote the full success of the centennial accord, which was signed bystate and tribal government leaders in 1989. As those leaders declaredin the subsequent millennial accord in 1999, this will require"educating the citizens of our state, particularly the youth who areour future leaders, about tribal history, culture, treaty rights,contemporary tribal and state government institutions and relations andthe contribution of Indian nations to the state of Washington." Thelegislature recognizes that this goal has yet to be achieved in most ofour state's schools and districts. As a result, Indian students maynot find the school curriculum, especially Washington state historycurriculum, relevant to their lives or experiences. In addition, manystudents may remain uninformed about the experiences, contributions,and perspectives of their tribal neighbors, fellow citizens, andclassmates. The legislature further finds that the lack of accurateand complete curricula may contribute to the persistent achievement gapbetween Indian and other students. The legislature finds there is aneed to establish collaborative governmenttogovernment relationshipsbetween elected school boards and tribal councils to create localand/or regional curricula about tribal history and culture, and topromote dialogue and cultural exchanges that can help tribal leadersand school leaders implement strategies to close the achievement gap.NEW SECTION.Sec. A new section is added to chapter 28A.345RCW to read as follows: (1) Beginning in 2006, and at least once annually through 2010, theWashington state school directors' association is encouraged to conveneregional meetings and invite the tribal councils from the region for 1 the purpose of establishing governmenttogovernment relationships anddialogue between tribal councils and school district boards ofdirectors. Participants in these meetings should discuss issues ofmutual concern, and should work to: (a) Identify the extent and nature of the achievement gap andstrategies necessary to close it; (b) Increase mutual awareness and understanding of the importanceof accurate, highquality curriculum materials about the history,culture, and government of local tribes; and (c) Encourage school boards to identify and adopt curriculum thatincludes tribal experiences and perspectives, so that Indian studentsare more engaged and learn more successfully, and so that all studentslearn about the history, culture, government, and experiences of theirIndian peers and neighbors. (2) By December 1, 2008, and every two years thereafter through2012, the school directors' association shall report to the educationcommittees of the legislature regarding the progress made in thedevelopment of effective governmenttogovernment relations, thenarrowing of the achievement gap, and the identification and adoptionof curriculum regarding tribal history, culture, and government. Thereport shall include information about any obstacles encountered, andany strategies under development to overcome them.Sec. RCW 28A.230.090 and 2004 c 19 s 103 are each amended toread as follows: (1) The state board of education shall establish high schoolgraduation requirements or equivalencies for students. (a) Any course in Washington state history and government used tofulfill high school graduation requirements ((is encouraged toinclude)) shall consider including information on the culture, history,and government of the American Indian peoples who were the firstinhabitants of the state. (b) The certificate of academic achievement requirements under RCW28A.655.061 or the certificate of individual achievement requirementsunder RCW 28A.155.045 are required for graduation from a public highschool but are not the only requirements for graduation. (c) Any decision on whether a student has met the state board's 2 high school graduation requirements for a high school and beyond planshall remain at the local level. (2) In recognition of the statutory authority of the state board ofeducation to establish and enforce minimum high school graduationrequirements, the state board shall periodically reevaluate thegraduation requirements and shall report such findings to thelegislature in a timely manner as determined by the state board. (3) Pursuant to any requirement for instruction in languages otherthan English established by the state board of education or a localschool district, or both, for purposes of high school graduation,students who receive instruction in American sign language or one ormore American Indian languages shall be considered to have satisfiedthe state or local school district graduation requirement forinstruction in one or more languages other than English. (4) If requested by the student and his or her family, a studentwho has completed high school courses before attending high schoolshall be given high school credit which shall be applied to fulfillinghigh school graduation requirements if: (a) The course was taken with high school students, if the academiclevel of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighthgrade classes, and the student has successfully passed by completingthe same course requirements and examinations as the high schoolstudents enrolled in the class; or (b) The academic level of the course exceeds the requirements forseventh and eighth grade classes and the course would qualify for highschool credit, because the course is similar or equivalent to a courseoffered at a high school in the district as determined by the schooldistrict board of directors. (5) Students who have taken and successfully completed high schoolcourses under the circumstances in subsection (4) of this section shallnot be required to take an additional competency examination or performany other additional assignment to receive credit. (6) At the college or university level, five quarter or threesemester hours equals one high school credit.NEW SECTION.Sec. A new section is added to chapter 28A.320RCW to read as follows: (1) Each school district board of directors is encouraged to 3 incorporate curricula about the history, culture, and government of thenearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes, so that studentslearn about the unique heritage and experience of their closestneighbors. School districts near Washington's borders are encouragedto include federally recognized Indian tribes whose traditional landsand territories included parts of Washington, but who now reside inOregon, Idaho, and British Columbia. School districts and tribes areencouraged to work together to develop such curricula. (2) As they conduct regularly scheduled reviews and revisions oftheir social studies and history curricula, school districts areencouraged to collaborate with any federally recognized Indian tribewithin their district, and with neighboring Indian tribes, toincorporate expanded and improved curricular materials about Indiantribes, and to create programs of classroom and community culturalexchanges. (3) School districts are encouraged to collaborate with the officeof the superintendent of public instruction on curricular areasregarding tribal government and history that are statewide in nature,such as the concept of tribal sovereignty and the history of federalpolicy towards federally recognized Indian tribes. The program ofIndian education within the office of the superintendent of publicinstruction is encouraged to help local school districts identifyfederally recognized Indian tribes whose reservations are in whole orin part within the boundaries of the district and/or those that arenearest to the school district.SHB 1495S COMM AMDBy Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher EducationADOPTED AS AMENDED 04/07/2005 On page 1, line 2 of the title, after schools; strike theremainder of the title and insert amending RCW 28A.230.090; adding anew section to chapter 28A.345 RCW; adding a new section to chapter28A.320 RCW; and creating a new section.--- END --- 4