The Washington State Coalition for International Education serves as a clearinghouse for information about legislative action related to the Coalition's goals:
- The integration of international perspectives into the P-20 curricula.
- The expansion of world language education, with an emphasis on early childhood education and improving second language proficiency outcomes.
- The encouragement of all forms of international exchanges.
* Note: The development of cross-cultural skills and competence is an expectation that is subsumed within all three goals.
2008 WSPTA Legislative Issue
John Stanford International School PTA has resubmitted the World Language and International Competency issue for the 2008 PTA Legislative Assembly. Download the 2008 Issue (Word).
Updates from 2008 Legislative Session
* House Bill 2523 - Creating the position of world language supervisor in the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2523
Sponsors: Representatives Hudgins,
Schual-Berke,
Hasegawa,
Roberts,
Goodman,
Kenney,
Santos,
Chase
Creates the position of world language supervisor in the
office of the superintendent of public instruction.
Final Status: It did not pass out of the Senate, but funding for the World Language Supervisor was included in the State Budget.
* Senate Bill 6466 - Creating a task force to study teaching Spanish and Chinese in public schools.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6466
Sponsors: Senators Roach,
Tom,
Rasmussen,
McAuliffe,
Hobbs,
Stevens,
Delvin,
Shin,
Carrell
Creates a task force to conduct an inventory of Spanish and Chinese language programs, curricula, supplementary materials, and professional development initiatives currently used in Washington.
Final Status: It did not pass.
* SB 5714 - 2007-08 Creating a pilot program of Spanish and Chinese language instruction.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5714&year=2008
Sponsors: Senators Roach,
Prentice,
Rasmussen,
Oemig,
Clements,
Rockefeller,
Tom,
Fairley,
Hobbs,
Shin,
Swecker,
Holmquist,
Benton,
Stevens,
Parlette,
Delvin,
Kline
Establishes a pilot program of Spanish and Chinese language instruction. Provides that, beginning in June 2009 and continuing for the life of the pilot program, the superintendent of public instruction shall submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature that summarizes the pilot program and its effectiveness. The report shall also include a recommendation as to whether or not the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or otherwise modified.
Final Status in 2008: It did not pass out of the House, but funding for the pilot programs was included in the State Budget. It was vetoed by Governor Gregoire due to lack of sustainability.
2007 Legislative Update
Meeting with Governor Gregoire September 7, 2007
Rep. Schual-Berke arranged a meeting on September 7, 2007 with Governor Gregoire and representatives from the World Languages Community: Caleb Perkins, Supervisor for Social Studies and International Education at OSPI; Lauren Kiolet, Executive Director of WAFLT; and Michele Anciaux Aoki, Project Director for the Washington State Coalition for International Education. The purpose of the meeting was to encourage Governor Gregoire to support the effort to reinstate a World Languages Coordinator at OSPI.
* Senate Bill 5481 Enhancing student learning opportunities and
achievement.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5841
Sponsors: Senators Hobbs, McAuliffe, Rockefeller, Tom, Oemig, Kauffman,
Regala, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen
This bill implemented many of the recommendations from Washington Learns (including new learning opportunities, full-day kindergarten, career paths, etc.). The bill originated in the Senate, but when it passed over to the House of Representatives, Rep. Shay Schual-Berke successfully amended it to include a new section (Section 7) establishing the position of World Languages Supervisor at OSPI. (Rep. Schual-Berke did this because that language got lost in her original bill HB1517, when that bill went to the Senate.)
Final status: Governor Gregoire vetoed the amendment to this bill with these comments:
| "Sections 1 through 5 of this bill addresses changes to the basic education act goals and authorizes new programs to further student learning opportunities. Specifically, all day kindergarten, primary grade foundational programs, English language learners, and community learning opportunities are addressed. Each of the new programs are provided with implementing resources in the biennial operating budget. Sections 6 and 7 of the bill, however, cannot be implemented. Those sections create a new career pathways program and a world languages supervisor within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Neither the program nor the OSPI supervisor were provided with financial support in the biennial operating budget. Additionally, a proposed duty supervisor to implement memoranda of understanding with ministries of education in other countries and conduct other related activities raises concerns about proper international relations protocol. For these reasons, I have vetoed Sections 6 and 7 of Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5841. With the exception of Sections 6 and 7, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5841 is approved." |
* Senate Bill 5714 - Creating a
pilot program of Spanish and Chinese language instruction.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5714
Sponsors: Senators Roach, Prentice, Rasmussen, Oemig, Clements,
Rockefeller, Tom, Fairley, Hobbs, Shin, Swecker, Holmquist, Benton,
Stevens, Parlette, Delvin, Kline
This bill would establish a pilot program of Spanish and Chinese
language instruction.
Final Status: It did not pass out of the Legislature.
* House Bill 1517 - Enhancing public school world language instruction.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1517
Sponsors: Representatives Schual-Berke, Priest, McDermott, Anderson,
Quall, Kenney, Roberts, Lantz, Kagi, Moeller, Santos, Hunt and Hudgins
This bill would establish a full-time staff position at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve as world languages supervisor. It enumerates 10 duties to be fulfilled by the position. It proposes funding pilot projects at the elementary and middle school levels, including a dual language enrichment program in a major Asian language.
Final Status: It did not pass out of the Legislature.
2007 WSPTA Legislative Issue
The Washington State PTA debated the issue: World Language and International Competencies at the State PTA Legislative Assembly October 5-6, 2007 in Seattle. This issue was Passed by the Legislative Assembly body and was prioritized #12 out of 28 issues this year. For more information, see Issue Info.
2006 WSPTA Legislative Issue
In June 2006, the John Stanford International School PTA took the lead on submitting a new legislative issue to the Washington State PTA: World Language and International Competency for All Children. Read the 2006 Legislative Issue (Word) or PDF.
The Coalition set up a page of FAQs about the issue:
The issue was included in the PTA Legislative Issues Booklet (PDF) and was debated at the 2006 Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly at the Yakima Convention Center, Yakima, WA on October 13-14, 2006. The delegates voted it #12 out of 24 issues.
The State PTA also specifically mentioned World Languages and global preparation in their response to the Washington Learns draft report in September. Read PTA Response (PDF):
World languages have been disappearing from our schools; at the same time we learn that the world is flat. Students need exposure to a wide variety of world language in order to be ready to work in a global world.
From 2006 Legislative Session
House Bill 2706 - Rigorous Curriculum in High Schools
updated 2/19/2006
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2706
Sponsors: Representatives Hunter, Sommers, Tom, Anderson, Talcott,
Quall, McIntire, Dunn, Green, Kenney, Lantz
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that, although students are being expected to meet higher academic standards as defined by the essential academic learning requirements, there is still a gap between what is required for high school graduation and the knowledge and skills students need to be successful in college or work. This gap has been confirmed by independent analysis by such organizations as Achieve. To assure that a high school diploma reflects adequate preparation for the intellectual demands of adult life, the legislature intends to create the expectation that all students enroll in a recommended high school program that includes a rigorous curriculum of study in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and an academic or career and technical concentration.
Several members of the Coalition have provided testimony on this bill and the importance of including World Languages. In general, they are supportive of the greater rigor of these "recommended" high school graduation requirements. The concern is that the bill, in its current draft, does not mention any requirement for world languages although there is a university admissions requirement of two years of a world language. This seems to be an oversight. We are hopeful that the House Education Committee will agree to add a line specifying:
(g) At least two credits (or equivalent proficiency) in a language other than English
Note post-session: The version of the bill that passed only included language about increasing math requirements.
U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education (2006)
Hosted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of
Education Margaret Spellings January 5-6, 2006.
http://www.exchanges.state.gov/universitysummit/.
- Briefing on the National Security Language Initiative
http://www.state.gov/g/rls/rm/2005/58737.htm - Fact Sheet: National Security Language Initiative
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/58733.htm
2004 PTA Legislative Issue
In June 2004, members of the Washington State Coalition for International Education submitted a legislative issue to the Washington State PTA: International Education for All Children. The PTA approved our issue and it went to the PTA Legislative Assembly in Yakima October 15-16, 2004 for debate and voting as a priority issue. For more information, see PTA Legislative Issue.
In considering new legislation, it is important to review what is
already on the books in this area. Larry Davis, Executive Director of
the State Board of Education, recently shared with us that the Revised
Code of Washington does include a state policy relating to diverse
cultures and languages. We plan to revisit this policy and work with the
Legislature for funding, if appropriate.
See:
RCW 1.20.100 Diverse cultures and languages encouraged.
House Bill 1970
The Coalition looked into the possibility of renewed interest in supporting this bill from 2003:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1970&year=2003.
Sponsors: Representatives Schual-Berke, Cox, Talcott, Anderson, Veloria,
Skinner, McDermott, Sullivan, Kagi, Quall, Haigh
The legislature intends to increase the attention of the K-12 system on the importance of world language instruction by reestablishing the position of world language specialist at the office of the superintendent of public instruction.