HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2034

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 requiring teacher preparation programs to integrate Native American curriculum developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction into existing Pacific Northwest history and government requirements.

Brief Description: Requiring teacher preparation programs to integrate Native American curriculum developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction into existing Pacific Northwest history and government requirements.

Sponsors: Representatives Lovick, Johnson, Tarleton, Chapman, Fitzgibbon, Ormsby, Tharinger and Macri.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 1/8/18, 1/25/18 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires teacher preparation programs to integrate the Since Time Immemorial curriculum into existing history and government course requirements.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Stonier, Vice Chair; Harris, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Johnson, Kilduff, Lovick, Ortiz-Self, Senn, Slatter, Steele, Stokesbary and Valdez.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Hargrove, McCaslin and Volz.

Staff: Katie Choate (786-7296) and Megan Wargacki (786-7194).

Background:

Teacher Preparation Programs.

Teacher candidates of teacher preparation programs are required to complete one quarter or semester course in either Washington state history and government or Pacific Northwest history and government.

Office of Native Education.

In 2011 the Legislature directed the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to create the Office of Native Education (Office). The Office was tasked with several duties, including facilitating the development and implementation of curricula and instructional materials regarding native languages, culture and history, and the concept of tribal sovereignty. Tribal sovereignty is defined as a way that tribes govern themselves in order to keep and support their cultural ways of life.

Since Time Immemorial Curriculum.

The Since Time Immemorial (STI) curriculum was developed by the OSPI in partnership with the 29 federally recognized Indian tribes whose reservations are located in Washington. The STI curriculum is available free of charge from the OSPI. The curriculum teaches elementary, middle, and high school classrooms about tribal sovereignty in Washington and is aligned to state standards.

In 2015 legislation was enacted to require, rather than encourage, the OSPI and school districts to take certain actions to develop and incorporate curricula about tribes. The OSPI was required to help school districts identify federally recognized Indian tribes within or near school districts.

School districts were required to do the following:

when reviewing or adopting social studies curricula, incorporate materials about the tribal history, culture, and government of the nearest federally recognized tribe(s) and work with tribes to develop such materials;
use the STI curriculum developed by the OSPI;
collaborate with neighboring tribes to incorporate expanded and improved curricular materials about Indian tribes and create programs of classroom and community cultural exchanges; and
collaborate with the OSPI on curricular areas of tribal government and history that are statewide in nature.

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Summary of Bill:

The Washington state history and government or Pacific Northwest history and government course requirements of teachers' colleges and teachers' courses in all institutions of higher education is expanded to include all teacher preparation programs. The teacher preparation programs must integrate the STI curriculum into existing program requirements.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) A decade ago the Legislature allowed Native American translators to teach Native American students their native language and the culture of that language. Tribes now know their culture will not disappear. Tribal history is part of Washington's foundation, and Washington citizens need to know that history. All teacher preparation programs need to teach this.

There is a historical perspective that we do not want to lose. There is support for the STI curriculum in the public schools. The STI curriculum supports all students, not just Native American students. The OSPI is responsible for partnering school districts with the 29 tribes. This bill front loads teachers with knowledge about Native American history and culture.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Lovick, prime sponsor; Bob Cooper, Washington Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association; Michael Vendiola, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Diana Moore.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.