| Passed by the House March 8, 2008 Yeas 89 FRANK CHOPP ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate March 4, 2008 Yeas 48 BRAD OWEN ________________________________________ President of the Senate | I, Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 2781 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. BARBARA BAKER ________________________________________ Chief Clerk | |
| Approved March 27, 2008, 3:24 p.m. CHRISTINE GREGOIRE ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | March 28, 2008 Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 60th Legislature | 2008 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/16/08. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to enhancing Washington state history and government course requirements for high school graduation; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The study of the state's history and
government is vital to providing a well-rounded education to students.
It is important for students to have a firm understanding of where we
have come from as a state and the institutions that guide and serve
citizens of the state. It is equally important to provide students
with context for the information that enables them to apply it to the
present and future, with an understanding of Washington's place in our
country and the broader global community.
The legislature finds that the current high school graduation
requirements for coursework in Washington state history and government
should be enhanced to ensure students understand the complex issues of
today's world and Washington's place in the global community. It is
therefore the intent of the legislature to modernize high school
graduation requirements for coursework in Washington state history and
government.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to
chapter 28A.230
RCW to read as follows:
Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, school districts shall
ensure that any course in Washington state history and government
offered to fulfill high school requirements includes, but is not
limited to, the following content:
(1) Commerce in Washington state and Washington's place in a global
economy;
(2) The Constitution of the state of Washington and Washington
state politics. Educators are encouraged to incorporate instruction on
the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance into existing
coursework on state politics. The superintendent of public instruction
shall adopt rules to provide guidance for complying with this
subsection;
(3) Washington state geography; and
(4) Washington state history and culture.