Office of native ed. grants

AN ACT Relating to establishing a state matching grant to support 1
American Indian and Alaska Native students; adding new sections to 2
chapter 28A.300 RCW; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes the profound 5
importance of preserving and nurturing the cultural heritage, 6
traditions, and languages of American Indian and Alaska Native 7
students. It is the intent of this act to support educational 8
opportunities that affirm the identity, history, and contributions of 9
American Indian and Alaska Native communities while fostering 10
academic achievement.11
The legislature acknowledges that it has intended to promote the 12
full success of the centennial accord, signed by state and tribal 13
government leaders in 1989, and the subsequent millennial accord in 14
1999. The legislature further recognizes that American Indian and 15
Alaska Native students thrive in educational environments that honor 16
their cultural heritage and provide meaningful connections to their 17
land, language, and traditions. These connections are vital to 18
building resilience, fostering a sense of belonging, and ensuring the 19
success of future generations. 20
Z-0308.1
HOUSE BILL 1479
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Lekanoff, Berry, Doglio, Davis, Ramel, Nance,
Fosse, Salahuddin, Scott, and Pollet; by request of Superintendent of
Public Instruction
Read first time 01/21/25. Referred to Committee on Education.
p. 1 HB 1479
The legislature further recognizes that American Indian and 1
Alaska Native students have historically been misidentified and 2
underidentified as a result of federal policies that fail to count 3
American Indian and Alaska Native students who have more than one 4
racial identity. This underidentification is persistent in 5
educational systems for support services, academic opportunities, and 6
cultural programs, and stems from a complex history that includes the 7
forced removal of indigenous cultures, languages, and identities 8
through policies and practices that sought to assimilate Native 9
peoples. 10
Therefore, the legislature intends to enact a state grant program 11
to match the federal investment through the Title VI, Part A, Subpart 12
1 grant, which provides critical funding to school districts to meet 13
the unique cultural, language, and educational needs of American 14
Indian and Alaska Native students. This grant program aims to empower 15
American Indian and Alaska Native students by supporting culturally 16
relevant programming, enhancing access to resources, and 17
strengthening partnerships between schools and tribal communities.18
Through this act, the legislature reaffirms its commitment to 19
addressing educational inequities and honoring the sovereignty, 20
identity, and future of American Indian and Alaska Native people in 21
Washington state. 22
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 23
RCW to read as follows: 24
(1) The office of native education created in RCW 28A.300.105 25
shall administer a state matching grant program to support school 26
districts and state-tribal education compact schools established 27
under chapter 28A.715 RCW. 28
(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 29
specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public 30
instruction shall award state grants to school districts and state-31
tribal education compact schools that were eligible for and received 32
funding from the federal Indian education formula grant under Title 33
VI, Part A of the every student succeeds act (P.L. 114-95), in the 34
prior school year. 35
(b) To receive a state grant, an eligible school district or 36
state-tribal education compact school must submit a strategic plan to 37
the office of native education for meeting the specific needs of 38
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American Indian and Alaska Native students. Plans must include, at 1
minimum: 2
(i) Key goals, measures, and outcomes that the funding will 3
support; and 4
(ii) Data, either qualitative or quantitative, on the above 5
goals, measures, and outcomes. 6
(c) If a school district receives a combined $40,000 or greater 7
from the state grant outlined above and the federal Indian education 8
formula grant, it must engage in tribal consultation as required 9
under Title VI of the federal every student succeeds act (P.L. 10
114-95, Title 20 U.S.C. Sec. 10001 et seq., Title 20 U.S.C. 6301 et 11
seq.). Tribal consultation must include uses of funds from both the 12
federal Indian education formula grant and the state grant.13
(d) State grant recipients must engage in meaningful parental 14
consultation, in line with requirements under the federal Indian 15
education formula grant. 16
(e) State grant recipients must participate in the office of the 17
superintendent of public instruction professional learning 18
communities organized by the superintendent of public instruction.19
(2) State grant awards must be based on the latest published 20
grant awards for the federal Indian education formula grant under 21
Title VI, Part A of the every student succeeds act (P.L. 114-95).22
(3) State grant funds under this section may be used to support 23
the education of American Indian and Alaska Native students and may 24
enhance activities under federal grants. Objectives of the state 25
grant include, but are not limited to: 26
(a) Increasing knowledge of cultural identity and awareness, 27
including traditional ecological knowledge; 28
(b) Family engagement and intergenerational knowledge sharing;29
(c) Increasing academic achievement; 30
(d) Improving school attendance; and 31
(e) Enhancing student and staff engagement. 32
(4) To assist school districts and state-tribal education compact 33
schools accessing federal funding, the superintendent of public 34
instruction shall support the application of the federal Indian 35
education formula grant under Title VI, Part A of the every student 36
succeeds act (P.L. 114-95) through technical assistance and guidance.37
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 38
RCW to read as follows: 39
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(1) Beginning June 30, 2026, in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, 1
the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall annually 2
report to the appropriate committees of the legislature summarizing 3
the state grants awarded under section 2 of this act.4
(2) This report must include, at minimum: 5
(a) Which school districts and state-tribal education compact 6
schools received a state matching grant; 7
(b) A summary of state grant uses, activities, and outcomes, 8
including information on data that was submitted to the office of the 9
superintendent of public instruction by state grant recipients in 10
their strategic plan; and 11
(c) If applicable, recommendations for state grant adjustments 12
regarding eligibility or funding. 13
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