VIDEO: WA Democrats seek to mandate DEI curriculum in public schools
CLW's Jeannie Magdua with the details on SB 5462
Our 2024 #waleg preview series continues with CLW Legislative Action Team Lead, Jeannie Magdua, with the details on SB 5462.
This bill would require OSPI to update its requirements about inclusive learning standards to include the histories, contributions and perspectives of LGBTQ people. The Washington State LGBTQ commission would be performing oversight of these new learning standards. We must stop teaching kids that their value and worth is based on the color of their skin, their sexual preferences or their gender. We must stop teaching students they are victims because of things they cannot control. We have a youth mental health crisis and it is undeniably tied to these teachings. We must commit to being inclusive to ALL students, to teaching kindness and compassion, no matter who you are or where you come from.
Read the bill: https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5462.E.pdf?q=20231208105316
Learn more about this bill on our LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER
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ESB 5262 seeks to satisfy a "state rule" (not identified clearly in 5462) under which "the instructional materials policy of each school district must establish and use appropriate screening criteria to identify and eliminate bias pertaining to protected classes." And then it goes on to frame its focus on updating "relevant state learning standards to include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of LGBTQ people."
Addressing the adequacy of any inclusion policy is a minefield, as there will always be someone who will argue that one group or another has been neglected. 5462 addresses concerns for the inclusion of "the histories, contributions and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups". Who is to say definitively what groups have been marginalized and underrepresented? And who is to identify groups who have NOT been marginalized and underrepresented and whose contributions and perspectives may therefore be neglected by agencies established to support 5462?
5462 neglects the general concern that the histories, contributions and perspectives of ALL groups be included when curricula and instructional materials are evaluated. Who will see to it that our children's educational experiences are fair for all?
ESB 5462 declares that the Legislature recognizes that "by STATE RULE, the instructional materials policy of each [AND EVERY] school district must establish and use appropriate screening criteria to identify and eliminate bias pertaining to protected classes". What is this STATE RULE? Is this rule consistent with STATE LAW?
ESB 5462 also recognizes a need to "review and update relevant state learning standards" used by all school boards in "adopting inclusive curricula and selecting inclusive instructional materials that include histories, contributions, and perspectives of LGBTQ people". This is a very tall order, especially given the very wide diversity of perspectives in the LGBTQ community. Local school boards should be careful to define local community standards for the perspectives to be covered in local curricula and instructional materials. Does ESB 5462 adequately allow for local school boards to allow for local community discretion and control?
ESB 5462 would require the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) to update its model policy on the adoption of curricula and selection of instructional materials. And it requires school districts to amend their policies and procedures to incorporate all the elements described in ESB 5462. The effect is to eliminate any discretion of WSSDA and local school boards in setting local policy, in favor of absolute discretion of the Legislature. It is not in the best interests of local parents and other community members to allow such erosion of their control over their children's education.