Representatives of WSSDA, the Tribal Leaders Congress on Education and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction participated in a special ceremony May 25 to sign a memorandum of agreement that will guide the association, participating tribes and other state agencies in implementing a new state law on tribal history and culture.

The law, approved in 2005, encourages WSSDA to bring school boards and tribal councils together to work on narrowing the achievement gap and to increase understanding of tribal history, culture and government. It also urges WSSDA to encourage school boards to develop a curriculum that includes tribal experiences and perspectives.

Starting in 2008, WSSDA is required under the law to submit a biennial report to the Legislature on progress being made in establishing government-to-government relations between tribes and school boards, reducing the achievement gap for Indian students, and the adoption of curriculum on tribal history and culture. The law also encourages the State Board of Education and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction  to promote more authentic and engaging curriculum related to specific tribes in history and social studies courses.

The memorandum of agreement defines these and other responsibilities for WSSDA, the Tribal Leaders Congress on Education, OSPI and SBE. For WSSDA, a key responsibility will be to provide resources and training for school boards to fulfill the intent of the new law.

For more information about the law and the agreement, contact WSSDA Executive Director Martharose Laffey at 360/491-9231.