Senate committee hears broad support for bill to add AANHPI history to K-12 standards

Summary

During a public hearing on Senate Bill 5,574, educators, students, advocacy groups and the bill sponsor urged the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee to direct OSPI to adopt learning standards and support materials for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history; no committee vote occurred during the hearing.

Senate Bill 5,574, which would direct the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to adopt Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history learning standards and require school instruction aligned to those standards beginning in the 2029–30 school year, drew extensive public testimony and sponsor remarks at a committee hearing.

Supporters told the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee the change is aimed at reducing historical erasure and addressing rising anti‑Asian hate. “SB 5,574 gives the residents of Washington hope,” said Angelique Chong, director of Make Us Visible Washington, adding the bill “does not create any new graduation requirement” and would integrate AANHPI stories into existing U.S. and Washington history frameworks.

The bill has three main components: directing OSPI to adopt AANHPI history learning standards by Sept. 1, 2028; requiring districts to provide instruction in grades K–12 when the topic aligns with state social studies standards and state history frameworks beginning in…

Senate committee hears broad support for bill to add AANHPI history to K-12 standards

Summary

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