OLYMPIA — Washington public schools will be required to teach about the history and culture of the state’s federally recognized tribes under a new law signed this week.
A 2005 law encouraged school districts to include instruction on tribal history using a curriculum developed through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5433, which mandates that districts use the native-focused instructional material known as Since Time Immemorial. It is endorsed by all 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington and already in use in schools in Snohomish County.
Also known as the sovereignty curriculum, it is a collection of lesson plans and materials for every grade from kindergarten through high school, aligned with the federal Common Core standards. All the materials are free and available online at indian-ed.org.
Schools may modify the curriculum to include elements specific to the nearest tribes in the region.
The law takes effect in July and passed 42-7 in the Senate and 76-22 in the House.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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