Instructional Materials Committee.  School district boards of directors must adopt a policy relative to the selection or deletion of instructional materials.  The policy must establish an instructional materials committee with certain members.  The instructional materials committee makes a recommendation about the materials in accordance with district policy, and the school board approves or disapproves the recommendations.

First-Class and Second-Class School Districts.  First-class school districts have enrollments of 2000 or more students, and second-class school districts have fewer than 2000 students.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  State law defines the following terms:

• diversity describes the presence of similarities and differences within a given setting, collective, or group based on multiple factors including race and ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, age, educational status, religion, geography, primary language, culture, and other characteristics and experiences;
• equity includes developing, strengthening, and supporting procedural and outcome fairness in systems, procedures, and resource distribution mechanisms to create equitable opportunities for all individuals, and also includes eliminating barriers that prevent the full participation of individuals and groups; and
• inclusion describes intentional efforts and consistent sets of actions to create and sustain a sense of respect, belonging, safety, and attention to individual needs and backgrounds that ensure full access to engagement and participation in available activities and opportunities.

Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, and every other school year thereafter, school districts must use one of the professional learning days to provide staff a variety of opportunities aligned with cultural competency, equity, diversity, and inclusion standards of practice developed by the Professional Educator Standards Board.

Washington State Office of Equity.  This office is established within the Office of the Governor for promoting access to equitable opportunities and resources that reduce disparities, and improve outcomes statewide across state government.

Bias Screening Tool.  State law directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to develop rules and guidelines to eliminate discrimination in textbooks and instructional materials used by students.  OSPI rule requires school districts and charter schools to adopt an instructional materials policy that includes selection criteria designed to eliminate bias based on sex; race; creed; religion; color; national origin; honorably discharged veteran or military status; sexual orientation; gender expression; gender identity; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; and the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.

Inclusive Curricula Coordinators.  Subject to appropriations, first-class districts must designate an inclusive curricula coordinator to promote, advise, and support development and adoption of curricula that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.  Each ESD must also designate a regional coordinator that must work with second-class districts.

The goal of the coordinators is to minimize students' fear and anxiety and help facilitate a sense of safety, belonging, inclusion, and engagement among students.  Coordinators have certain duties, including:

• helping to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are interwoven throughout curricula; 
• facilitating the use of a bias screening tool to review instructional materials;
• serving on the Instructional Materials Committee;
• working with the regional youth advisory councils and other students;
• coordinating with employees leading efforts on diversity, equity, or inclusion, OSPI, and the Office of Equity;
• supporting professional development efforts; and 
• helping to improve school and classroom culture and climate.

Coordinators may be a current employee with these additional duties, or a new employee with these duties.

Regional Youth Advisory Councils.  Subject to appropriations, each ESD must establish a Regional Youth Advisory Council for inclusive curricula and equity.  The purpose of the councils is advise and inform the work of inclusive curricula coordinators, and they must:

• distribute an annual survey to assess the effectiveness of the coordinators; and
• coordinate with certain student or youth councils or groups.

The council must consist of at least one student representative from each school district within the ESD and have students with diverse backgrounds.  Students may be selected to serve on the council by staff recommendation, application, or interview. 

Open Educational Resource Database.  Subject to appropriations, OSPI, in collaboration with the statewide association of educational service districts and the Washington State School Directors' Association, must create an open educational resource database for developing inclusive curricula.  OSPI must consult with the Office of Equity and other relevant agencies.

The database must include resources that include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups. 

The database must facilitate the free use, adaptation, and sharing of these resources among school districts and certificated staff.