H-3998.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2577
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Talcott, Haigh, Cox, Schindler, Pearson, Anderson, Carrell, Schmidt, Nixon, Morell, Casada, Esser, Benson, Holmquist, Miloscia, Mitchell, Mulliken, Quall, Woods, Campbell, Ogden and Upthegrove)
Read first time 02/05/2002. Referred to Committee on .
AN ACT Relating to character education; amending RCW 28A.150.211; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that academic success rests on a foundation of character. The legislature further finds that parents are the first and primary moral educators of children, and that schools have a role in reinforcing the character traits and values deemed important by parents and the local community. The legislature further finds that when character education is integrated into a school's curriculum there is a decline of incidences involving violence, bullying, and harassment. The legislature intends to encourage school districts to integrate character education into each school's curriculum. The legislature further intends that local communities, in partnership with schools or school districts, should have the responsibility for determining which character traits and values are included in each district's or school's character education program.
Sec. 2. RCW 28A.150.211 and 1994 c 245 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The legislature also recognizes that certain basic values and character traits are essential to individual liberty, fulfillment, and happiness. However, these values and traits are not intended to be assessed or be standards for graduation. The legislature intends that local communities have the responsibility for determining how these values and character traits are learned as determined by consensus at the local level. These values and traits include the importance of:
(((1))) (a)
Honesty, integrity, and trust;
(((2))) (b)
Respect for self and others;
(((3))) (c)
Responsibility for personal actions and commitments;
(((4))) (d)
Self-discipline and moderation;
(((5))) (e)
Diligence and a positive work ethic;
(((6))) (f)
Respect for law and authority;
(((7))) (g)
Healthy and positive behavior; and
(((8))) (h)
Family as the basis of society.
(2) Each school district is strongly encouraged to develop and implement a character education program that incorporates into its curriculum the character traits and values included in subsection (1) of this section. Each school district is also strongly encouraged to develop its character education program in partnership with parents and all interested stakeholders in its local community. When developing character education programs, school districts shall comply with the open public meetings act, chapter 42.30 RCW.
(3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction:
(a) Shall collect and make available on its web site programs and instructional materials that will help school districts, in consultation with parents and local community members, teach students how to demonstrate in a school setting the character traits in subsection (1) of this section;
(b) Shall include on its web site a link to the safety center web page;
(c) May update with new technologies access to this information in the safety center, to the extent resources are made available; and
(d) Shall permit individual school districts to have direct access to the safety center web site to post a brief summary of their policies, programs, partnerships, vendors, and instructional and training materials and to provide a link to the school district's web site for further information.
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