YOUTH ADVOCACY HUB
SUMMARY
This bill is not progressing, but its core ideas were included in another bill introduced this session about inclusive curricula in schools, SB 5462, which made it further in the legislative process. Unfortunately, neither bill is progressing at this point.
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Every Educational Service District (ESD) would have to designate a regional inclusive curricula coordinator.
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The coordinators' job would be to help school districts ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in their instructional materials, facilitate professional development to teachers, improve school climates so they're more inclusive, serve on the district's specific instructional materials committee, and more.
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Additionally, each ESD would convene a regional youth advisory council to help with these duties. This council must reflect a diverse representation of student identities.
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The bill also directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to work with ESDs and youth councils to create a database with resources on how to develop & teach inclusive curricula.
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Specifically calls out the need to reflect perspectives and histories of historically marginalized and underrepresented people.
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POINTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS BILL
Background:
In the midst of the anti-Critical Race Theory (CRT) movement sweeping across the country, many districts in Washington have themselves begun to remove certain topics, authors, and perspectives from school libraries and curricula. In addition to targeting perspectives that explore the history and present realities of the United States through the lens of race, these movements have also specifically targeted LGBTQ+ representation, among other identities and experiences that are marginalized and underrepresented. Read more about CRT here. Many students and young people have expressed a desire for more representative and inclusive curricula both before and after anti-CRT movements became more prevalent. With collaboration from key advocates, legislators, and other stakeholders, Washington's Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) brought this bill forth this session.
About LYAC:
LYAC is "...a group composed of 24 geographically, ideologically, and socioeconomically diverse students aged 14-18. We are the first official nonpartisan voice of youth in the Washington state Legislature and work under the Lieutenant Governor’s office. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for youth all over Washington state by making sure their voices and opinions are heard in the Legislature." You can read their guest blog post about Senate Bill 5441 and why we need inclusive education here. To visit their website, click here.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Steps to Get Started
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Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
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If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
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If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
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Spread the word and get other people on board.
Participating in a Hearing
Sign in Pro, Con, or Other
This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.
Submit Written Testimony
Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known, to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don't want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.
Testify Virtually
Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom.
Testify In Person
To testify on a bill in person, you must travel to Olympia and join the real-time committee hearing on the Capitol campus. You will also get between 1-2 minutes to state your opinion. This is often a powerful way to make an impression on legislators in the room.
Using the WA Legislature Website
