Washington governor signs bill requiring schools to teach about ‘underrepresented’ groups
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Within the next two years, Washington school districts will be required to educate students on “historically marginalized and under-represented groups” as part of their standard curriculum.
After Senate Bill 5462 passed the Washington House with a 56-37 vote and the Senate with a 28-20 vote, Gov. Jay Inslee officially signed it into law on Monday.
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The bill calls on Washington schools to teach students about the histories and perspectives of racial minorities, the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities, among other groups — as long as the material is “diverse, equitable, inclusive [and] age-appropriate.”
The law goes into effect on June 6 of this year, but the Washington State School Directors’ Association isn’t required to submit a new model policy until June 1, 2025.
Superintendents are then expected to notify district employees and parents of the new learning standards by September 1, before they are adopted the following month.
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Sen. Marko Liias, a member of the Washington State Legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus, was SB 5462’s chief sponsor.
“The contributions of gay Washingtonians deserve recognition, and just as importantly, students deserve to see themselves in their schoolwork,” Liias said in a statement.
“That leads to better attendance, better academic achievement and better overall quality of life, ensuring success for all our students. I’m so pleased to see this critical bill make it across the finish line and signed into law,” he added.
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