Learning Standards.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must develop, and periodically revise, state learning standards that identify the knowledge and skills all public school students need to know and be able to do based on the student learning goals.  OSPI has adopted learning standards for 14 topics including social studies.

OSPI must include a screening for biased content in each development or revision of a state learning standard and ensure that concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion are incorporated into each new or revised learning standard.

By September 1, 2025, OSPI must produce and post on its website a schedule for the revision of the state learning standards. 

Ethnic Studies.  In 2021, OSPI was directed to identify existing state learning standards that address the knowledge and skills that all public school students need to be global citizens in a global society with an appreciation for the contributions of diverse cultures.  These state learning standards must be periodically updated to incorporate best practices in ethnic studies.

OSPI must identify and make available ethnic studies materials and resources for use in grades K through 12.  Public schools with students in grades 7 through 12 are encouraged to offer an ethnic studies course, and public schools with students in grades K through 6 are encouraged to incorporate ethnic studies materials and resources. 

Inclusive Curricula and Instructional Materials.  By June 1, 2025, the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA), with OSPI, must review and update a model policy and procedure to require that school districts, within available materials, adopt inclusive curricula and select diverse, equitable, inclusive, age-appropriate instructional materials that include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups including, but not limited to, people from various racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, people with differing learning needs, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, and people with various socioeconomic and immigration backgrounds.

By October 1, 2025, school districts must amend their policy and procedures to conform with the WSSDA model policy and procedures.

John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial Curriculum.  The John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial curriculum (curriculum) is maintained by OSPI and includes curricular resources for students in early learning programs, elementary, middle, and high school.

Beginning in 2015, school districts were required to incorporate curricula about the history, culture, and government of the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes when reviewing or adopting social studies curriculum.  Districts are directed to use the curriculum to fulfill this requirement and may modify that curriculum to incorporate regionally specific elements.

State Board of Education.  The State Board of Education (SBE) must adopt rules to implement and ensure compliance with the state's statutory program of basic education. 

Direct Lived Experience.  State law requires certain entities to include at least three individuals from underrepresented populations who have direct lived experience with the identified policy or issue that the entity is tasked with examining.

Upon completion of the entity's work and by the same date of its final report, each entity must report certain information to the Office of Equity.

Learning Standards.  By September 1, 2028, OSPI must adopt Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history learning standards as part of the state social studies learning standards and must identify available curricula and other instructional materials that are aligned to those standards.  These materials must be collected in collaboration with leaders from Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander community-based organizations, and the statewide association of educational service districts. 

The learning standards must include, but is not limited to:

• the history of Americans of East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander descent; and
• a focus on this history and contributions of these groups in the state, region, and country, including incorporated and unincorporated territories of the U.S.

Instruction.  Beginning in the 2029-30 school year, school districts must provide instruction in grades K through 12 on Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history when the topic aligns with the state social studies learning standards and is included in existing frameworks of U.S. history and Washington State history.

School districts are encouraged to use the materials identified by OSPI, ethnic studies materials and resources, or other existing and appropriate public or private materials, personnel, and resources.

School districts may accept gifts, grants, and donations related to this instruction. 

Beginning June 30, 2030, and annually thereafter, each school district must provide a report to SBE, OSPI, and WSSDA that the district is offering the instruction, and the instruction is planned, ongoing, and systemic. 

Advisory Committee.  OSPI must establish a temporary advisory committee with certain members to:

• advise, assist, and make recommendations regarding the implementation of the learning standards and identification of history curricula and other instructional materials;
• develop a framework to support teaching this topic including identifying educational programs, professional development, and teacher training opportunities; and 
• submit a report to the Office of Equity regarding how those with direct lived experience participated.

Nothing in this act supersedes the use of the John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial curriculum.  This act is supplementary to, and does not supersede, the ethnic studies materials and resources for public school students.