Bill > SB5044

This bill aims to promote equity, cultural competency, and the dismantling of institutional racism in the public school system. Key provisions include: - Defining terms like "cultural competency," "diversity," "equity," and "inclusion" for the purposes of the bill. - Requiring the Washington State School Directors' Association to develop standards for cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion in school board governance, and to provide training programs for school board directors aligned with those standards. - Requiring the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board to develop standards of practice for cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion for school district staff, from paraeducators to administrators. - Mandating that all school board directors complete a governance training program aligned with the cultural competency standards at least once per term. - Requiring school districts to use a professional learning day each school year to provide training to staff on cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion. - Integrating cultural competency standards into the preparation and certification requirements for educators. Overall, the bill seeks to embed principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the public education system in Washington state.