The bill creates new sections of law that require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to convene a work group to identify African American studies curricula and other instructional methods and materials for students in grades 7–12. This is a procedural law change establishing a state-directed work group and a reporting requirement; it does not create a crime or change penalties. The work group must review a specified 2021-funded report, connect with faculty at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and survey high school and college African American studies courses and programs. The work group’s minimum membership includes representatives from OSPI, the Washington state commission on African American affairs, the educational opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee, statewide teacher and principals organizations, the educational service district serving the most students, community education and faith-based organizations, the National Urban League, the NAACP, HBCU faculty, deans of education at state institutions of higher education, public middle and high school student leaders, families/guardians of public school students, and appropriate legislative committees. OSPI must report the work group’s activities and the list of identified curricula and instructional methods/materials to the appropriate legislative committees by December 1, 2027, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036. The reporting requirement in section 2 expires July 1, 2028. The bill defines “African American studies” as an interdisciplinary, scholarly analysis of the history, culture, and contributions of people of African descent in the United States and the African diaspora. Important context is missing: the content of the 2021-funded report referenced, the specific names of the “appropriate committees of the legislature,” and operational details such as staffing, funding, and selection procedures for curricula.

If enacted, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will need to assemble and run a temporary work group made up of specified state education bodies, community organizations, HBCU faculty, and others to identify African American studies curricula and instructional methods for grades 7–12, review a 2021-funded report, and survey existing high school and college programs. In practical terms this will create real time and staff demands on OSPI and on the listed partners (state commissions, teacher and principal groups, the educational service district, community and faith organizations, the NAACP, National Urban League, HBCUs, and colleges) as they meet, review materials, and produce a list to send to the legislature by December 1, 2027; school districts will gain a compiled set of identified resources they can consider but are not required to adopt. Key uncertainties and likely constraints are that no new funding, staffing details, or procedures for how districts would select or adopt the identified curricula are provided in the extracted text, and the work group authority expires July 1, 2028, so any influence on classroom offerings depends on whether districts and the legislature act after the report.