2024 Regular Session

BySenators McCune, J. Wilson, and Fortunato

Read first time 01/12/24.Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

AN ACT Relating to mandating instruction on the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance in public schools; and amending RCW 28A.230.140.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.230.140 and 1981 c 130 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The board of directors of every school district shall cause a United States flag being in good condition to be displayed during school hours upon or near every public school plant, except during inclement weather. They shall cause appropriate flag exercises to be held in each classroom at the beginning of the school day, and in every school at the opening of all school assemblies, at which exercises those pupils so desiring shall recite the following salute to the flag: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Students not reciting the pledge shall maintain a respectful silence. The salute to the flag or the national anthem shall be rendered immediately preceding interschool events when feasible.

(2)(a) Beginning no later than the 2025-26 school year, school districts must offer instruction in the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance. At a minimum, the instruction must be offered once in elementary school, once in middle school, and once in high school.

(b) To the extent practicable, the office of the superintendent of public instruction must make available in the library of openly licensed courseware under RCW 28A.300.803 curricular resources related to the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance.