HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2804
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Education
Title: An act relating to promoting geography education.
Brief Description: Establishing an endowment for the promotion of geography education.
Sponsors: Representatives Schual-Berke, Hudgins, Fromhold, Ormsby, Hunt, Barlow, Sullivan, Haigh, Lantz, Quall, Miloscia and McIntire.
Brief History:
Education: 1/29/08, 2/1/08 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; Barlow, Vice Chair; Priest, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Haigh, Liias, Roach, Santos and Sullivan.
Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).
Background:
The National Geographic Society (Society) was formed in 1888 and is currently one of the
largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. The Society operates a
number of different organizations under its umbrella, one of which is the National
Geographic Education Foundation (Foundation). The Foundation awards more than $5
million each year to support teacher training, outreach, and other programs that promote
geography education and provides support to state-level coalitions (called Geography
Alliances) of K-12 teachers, college geographers and educators, and school administrators.
There is an active Washington Geographic Alliance.
One initiative of the Society is to match local contributions in a state, up to $500,000, for the
express purpose of establishing an endowment for geography education. The earnings of
each state endowment are used only to support geography education in that state. The
Foundation manages the fund and covers administrative costs. To ensure local
accountability, grants are recommended by a local advisory committee for approval by the
Board of Trustees of the Foundation. To date, 23 other states have created geography
education endowments through the Society and Foundation.
Summary of Bill:
Subject to funding, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must
contract with a national organization to establish, maintain, and operate an endowment for
the promotion of geography education in Washington. The national organization must have
experience operating geography education endowments and provide equal non-state matching
funds.
Funds and interest on the endowment are used for geography education programs, including
curriculum, resource collections, and professional development. The national organization
must have an affiliated advisory committee in the state to recommend local projects to be
funded by the endowment. The organization must report annually to the OSPI on the
recipients and purposes of expenditure from the fund.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 22, 2008.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Too many students are geographically illiterate. Knowledge of geography
benefits a student's reading, writing, and math skills. Geography fits well with the state's
Essential Academic Learning Requirements. Washington has an amazing opportunity to be
the 24th state to receive matching funds from the Foundation for geography education.
Geography is more than recognizing places on a map; it provides education about the
interaction of culture, history, and natural resources. Endowment funds could enrich
geography education by providing globes, giant maps, school assemblies, cultural
performances, and other activities. Few teachers have exposure to geography as a discipline.
In today's global economy, there is a need for everyone to have greater understanding about
the world. The Foundation stands ready to match up to $500,000. They have the experience
in managing these endowments for other states. Their fundamental interest is in improving
the geographic literacy of American students, and one way to do that is to improve the quality
of teaching of geography.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Schual-Berke, prime sponsor; Meghan Hoyer, Washington Geographic Alliance; JW Harrington, University of Washington; Jim Huckabay, Central Washington University; and Lanny Proffer, National Geographic Society.