(1) School district employees and directors may not take an adverse employment action against any employee of the school district for:

(a) Supporting students in the exercise of their legal rights, including their right to a learning environment with historically and scientifically accurate information that: Includes the histories, contributions, and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups as provided in RCW 28A.345.130; and provides students with an appreciation for the contributions and perspectives of diverse, global cultures; or

(b) Performing work in a manner consistent with RCW 28A.642.080, 28A.642.020, 28A.605.005, 28A.320.209, and 28A.230.005 and section 201, chapter 369, Laws of 2025.

(2) In addition to the prohibitions established in subsection (1) of this section, school district employees and directors may not take an adverse employment action against a teacher of the school district for:

(a) Instructing students in a manner consistent with state learning standards; or

(b) Using instructional materials approved in accordance with RCW 28A.320.230 that are culturally and experientially representative, including materials on the study of the role and contributions of individuals or groups that are part of a protected class under RCW 28A.642.010 and 28A.640.010.

(3) For the purposes of this section, an "adverse employment action" includes termination, demotion, suspension, discipline, denial of promotion, reassignment, negatively impacting the evaluation of certificated staff under RCW 28A.405.100, removal from, or denying access to, a supplemental contract, or otherwise taking any negative employment action against the employee.

(4) This section governs school operation and management under RCW 28A.710.040 and 28A.715.020, and applies to charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 RCW and state-tribal education compact schools subject to chapter 28A.715 RCW to the same extent as it applies to school districts.

Effective date—2025 c 369: See note following RCW 28A.320.209.