Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 1829
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. |
Brief Description: Creating a division of Indian education in the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
Sponsors: Representatives Billig, Santos, Haigh, Probst, Sells, Kenney, Reykdal, Maxwell, Stanford, Morris, Hasegawa, Ryu, McCoy, Hunt, Moscoso, Hope, Appleton and Ormsby.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 2/11/11
Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).
Background:
Although not required by statute, for over 50 years there has been an Indian Education Office at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The mission of this office is to:
provide leadership, technical assistance, and advocacy to promote academic success for all students; and
encourage, promote, and develop strategies to infuse the teaching of Native history, culture, language, and government in Washington's schools.
The Indian Education Office is staffed by two employees, one a program supervisor and the other an instructional program specialist.
In September 2010 the OSPI Indian Education Office launched a web-based Tribal sovereignty curriculum. Prior to its official launch, it was pilot tested for two years in 14 schools throughout the state. It is locally based so that student learning can be connected with Tribes in the local area. It is also free, for the most part.
Summary of Bill:
An Indian Education Division (Division) is created within the OSPI. The Superintendent must appoint an assistant superintendent for the Division.
The duties and responsibilities of the division are to:
provide assistance to school districts in meeting the educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students;
facilitate the development and implementation of curricula and instructional materials in native languages, culture and history, and the concept of tribal sovereignty;
provide assistance to districts in the acquisition of funding to develop curricula and instructional materials in conjunction with Native language practitioners and tribal elders;
coordinate technical assistance for public schools that serve American Indian and Alaska Native students;
seek funds to develop and implement various support services for the purposes of increasing the number of American Indian and Alaska Native teachers and principals, and providing continued professional development;
facilitate the inclusion of Native language programs in school districts' curricula; and
work with all relevant agencies and committees to highlight the need for accurate, useful data that is appropriately disaggregated.
There is also an obligation to report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs on an annual basis, beginning in December 2012.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.