Seeds of learning: Washington bills prompts schools to educate students on agriculture

Reneé Dìaz

(WIX File Photo)

OLYMPIA — Senate Bill 5813 proposes a mandatory agricultural literacy course for high school graduation, marking a deliberate shift towards immersing students in Washington’s diverse agricultural landscape. Sponsored by Senator Perry Doizer, R-Waitsburg, the bill aims to broaden students' understanding of agriculture beyond mere produce picking.

“Let our young people understand where their food comes from and its local importance, we don’t need to import it when we have it right here,” said Senator Perry Doizer, R-Waitsburg.

The bill explicitly defines agricultural literacy as a comprehensive understanding of the agriculture industry, encompassing knowledge about the origins of food, the individuals involved in its cultivation, economic and environmental impacts, and its connection to livestock.

Waitsburg said schools will be able to emphasize the connection between computer science and farming that occurs in Washington. The program would expose students to various tools and technologies commonly used in modern farming practices. Through this bill, the sponsor aims to bridge the gap between traditional farming practices and cutting-edge technology.

“Technology has probably been one of our biggest drivers in the past two decades. I’ve seen a lot of our equipment evolve, from self-driving tractors to GPS-monitored tractors that can drive right on the mark,” said Doizer.

The legislation mandates that each student receives agricultural literacy instruction at least once before completing grade 12, starting as early as grade seven. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to provide curricular resources related to agricultural literacy in the library of openly licensed courseware.

The bill grants school districts the authority to determine how to incorporate lessons about Washington's agriculture. They can choose to integrate agricultural literacy into existing courses or adapt current courses to encompass topics related to the state’s agriculture. This flexibility provides schools with the freedom to choose the approach that best suits their needs.

In addition to SB 5813, the Senate introduced three other bills at the Early Learning & K-12 Education committee, all addressing graduation requirements. However, educational stakeholders express concerns about the feasibility of implementing new graduation requirements.Washington currently faces

an educator according to the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board.

“The principals looked at this list today and felt really overwhelmed by the additional requirements for their staff,” said Roz Thompson, representing the Association of Washington School Principals.

Constituents expressed approval for the idea of reevaluating graduation requirements during the hearing. However, they noted a consensus that there is insufficient support available for both educators and students in implementing these changes.

“Ensuring we have a properly prepared workforce with access to professional learning, training, and appropriate funding are key,” said Nasue Nishida, a representative from the Washington Education Association.

Doizer mentioned that the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education committee is reevaluating details for graduation requirements without overburdening students.

“Can we incorporate this and not overload our students? We will have to see,” said Dozier.

A look at other graduation requirement bills: 

Senate Bill 5819: Making financial education instruction a graduation prerequisite and a required component of public education.

Senate Bill 5849: Concerning computer science competency graduation requirements.

Senate Bill 5851: Concerning Holocost and genocide in public schools.