Maybe it’s the constitutional scrap incited by the McCleary school funding decision.<\/p>\n
Maybe it’s the constitutional commotion ignited by President Donald Trump’s travel ban executive order.<\/p>\n
Or maybe they simply want to inspire more conversations about the Constitution and governance, ours and the nation’s, in classrooms throughout Washington.<\/p>\n
Whatever the motives, initiatives to improve and expand civics education are wending their way through the legislative labyrinth.<\/p>\n
In the House, conservative Republican Rep. Bruce Chandler of Granger and liberal Democratic Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos of Seattle have introduced a bill requiring high school students to pass a slice of the civics component in the federal citizenship test to graduate. It directs the state superintendent to devise a test with 50 questions, with at least 35 correct answers necessary to earn a passing grade.<\/p>\n
In the Senate, a Republican senator is trying for the second time to tax political campaigns and use the money to teach civics and boost enforcement of state election laws.<\/p>\n
The idea, pushed by state Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, is to treat the campaign organizations of candidates, initiative backers and political committees — including those tied to Democratic and Republican parties — like small companies. Senate Bill 5313 would make them pay business taxes if total contributions reach a particular threshold. An estimated $1.59 million could be generated in the next budget.<\/p>\n
On a third front, Sen. Hans Zeiger, R-Puyallup, wants to unite public schools and private foundations on projects to boost students’ classroom instruction and civic participation.<\/p>\n
He’s authored Senate Bill 5236 to get it done with the creation of the Civic Learning Public-Private Partnership. This group would be modeled after the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, created by the Legislature in 2009 to increase young people’s financial literacy.<\/p>\n
On Monday, both Senate bills passed out of the Senate Education Committee, of which Zeiger is chairman. They are awaiting consideration by the Ways and Means Committee.<\/p>\n
State law mandates high school students earn three credits in social studies, including at least a half-credit in civics. The courses should cover how local, state and federal government operate, the state and U.S. constitutions and the electoral process.<\/p>\n
Zeiger’s quest is to bolster the content and quality of what is taught. To him, the value couldn’t be any clearer than right now.<\/p>\n
Consider the school funding debate wrought by the McCleary decision. As lawmakers wrestle with carrying out the state’s paramount duty to fund public schools – see Article IX in Washington’s constitution – residents must understand their rights and responsibilities – see Article I – to influence the process.<\/p>\n
It’s not just about understanding what’s happening in Olympia. It’s about figuring out how to converse on civic affairs after last year’s elections and the events of the past few weeks.<\/p>\n
“I worry that our civil discourse is breaking down,” Zeiger said. “The future of this country depends on our ability to resolve our differences in a civil and constructive way and that absolutely begins with civic education.”<\/p>\n
Three bills are in the hopper tending to this cause.<\/p>\n