Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires anti-racism and equity training in public schools.

Highlights:

• Defines "cultural competency" as understanding antiracism standards, an equity framework, and culturally responsive instruction that acknowledges student cultural histories and contexts, as well as family norms and values in different cultures; knowledge and skills in accessing community resources and community and parent outreach; and skills in adapting instruction to students' experiences, including students' with disabilities experiences, and identifying cultural contexts for individual students (Sec. 6-2).

• Requires a recommended list of available equity, diversity, inclusion, antiracism, and cultural competency training for school board directors, and superintendents, and posts the recommended list of training programs online for parents and community members (Sec. 2-1).

• Requires the training to instruct school board directors on dismantling institutional racism by examining school district policies with an equity lens, promoting racial literacy, understanding stereotype threat, and identifying disproportionate student outcomes by using district data (Sec. 2-1).

• Requires the training program to include the following (Sec. 3-2):

• The foundational elements of cultural competence, focusing on multicultural education and principles of English language acquisition;

• Review of district data to identify disproportionate student outcomes; and

• Components that are appropriate for classified school staff and district administrators as well as certificated instructional staff and principals at the building level.

• Appropriates funding for 3 professional learning days for certificated instructional staff for the 2020-2021 school year (Sec. 5-1).

• Requires the professional educator standards board to post the list of model standards for antiracism and cultural competency online for parents and community members (Sec. 6-1).

• Restructures teaching standards to involve an understanding of related competencies, such as trauma-informed practices, consideration of adverse childhood experiences, mental health literacy, anti bullying strategies, and culturally sustaining practices (Sec. 7.c).

Full Bill Text