Washington State Legislators,

Honorable Chair Ormsby,
Honorable Vice Chair Macri,
Honorable Vice Chair Gregerson,

Honorable Chair Robinson,
Honorable Vice Chair Stanford,

We, the undersigned, respectfully request your support to fully fund the $200,000 funding for the Islamophobia Curriculum in the final operating budget.

Sponsored by Senator Yasmin Trudeau, this proviso is included in the Senate operating budget, and will enable the completion of an existing program, which was initially funded in FY25. The curriculum, developed by a Washington-based Muslim curriculum expert organization in collaboration with the Puget Sound Educational Service District, is halfway through its development. This critical initiative aims to equip educators across the state with the tools they need to address Islamophobia in the classroom and foster inclusive learning environments.

Islamophobia has risen by 80% in recent years, and we are now facing an all-time high in Islamophobia and bias-related incidents targeting Muslim and Arab communities. Educators across Washington have expressed significant challenges in providing culturally competent curriculum that addresses these issues. While many educators are committed to fostering inclusive environments, they report a lack of resources and professional development opportunities to help them effectively teach about Islamophobia and its impacts. Without a foundational understanding of Muslim history, Islamic teachings, and the cultural context of Islamophobia, educators feel ill-equipped to respond to the rising instances of bias and discrimination their students encounter. This knowledge gap limits their ability to foster empathy, respect, and a deeper understanding of the Muslim community. Teachers are eager to combat Islamophobia, but they need structured guidance, accurate information, and culturally competent resources to do so. The funding we seek is vital to providing these essential tools for teachers to address Islamophobia with confidence and promote inclusivity in their classrooms.

In response, the Washington Muslim Coalition has worked diligently to create a comprehensive plan to address these needs. Last year, we were grateful to receive $180,000 in operating funds from the state legislature for the development of curriculum and professional development resources with PSESD. This funding was critical for the development phase. Now, we seek your support to secure an additional $200,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 to complete and implement this curriculum.

The language, is currently included in the Senate Operating budget, (see page 345, line 30): 

(13) $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the Puget Sound educational service district 121 to contract with a Washington-based Muslim educational organization, with expertise in curriculum about Muslim and Arab history, to develop curriculum that supports Washington teachers in implementing and incorporating lessons on Islamophobia. If a Washington-based organization cannot be found, the office may seek proposals from organizations incorporated outside of Washington. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $5,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided for the Puget Sound educational service district to administer the contract. 

We ask you to include the funding in the final conferenced operating budget. 

Once these resources are created, no further funding will be required. The funding awarded for FY 2025 supported the development phase, and the requested funding for FY 2026 will allow us to complete and implement the resources.

We urge you to support full funding for this crucial initiative in the final operating budget. By doing so, you will ensure that educators across Washington have the resources they need to address Islamophobia, creating a more inclusive and understanding environment for all students.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continued commitment to advancing educational equity and cultural competency in Washington.

Sincerely,

CAIR-Washington + Washington Muslim Coalition

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More ways to support CAIR-WA's efforts to protect the Muslim Community:

www.cairwa.org