BILL REQ. #:  H-4906.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/06/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to teaching Washington's tribal history and culture; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop, in collaboration with school district social studies teachers and with tribal education and cultural specialists, and make available to school districts a model curriculum for incorporating Washington's tribal history in the existing school district Washington state history and social studies curriculum. To the extent feasible, the curriculum should be designed so as to be easily incorporated into a district's history and social studies courses and integrated with other disciplines. The curriculum must be developed by January 30, 2005.
     (2) School districts shall collaborate with the government of the federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation lands or traditional lands and territories are within or nearest to the boundaries of the district to supplement the state model curriculum with information regarding the tribe's history, culture, and government, and to the extent feasible, shall facilitate opportunities for cultural exchange with the tribe.
     (3) The program of Indian education and the social studies office within the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall assist school districts in determining the location of tribal reservations and traditional lands and territories.