BILL NUMBER: AB 399	CHAPTERED  07/07/03

	CHAPTER  35
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 7, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 7, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 19, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 15, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wyland

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2003

   An act to amend Section 51221.3 of the Education Code, relating to
school curriculum.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 399, Wyland.  Education:  instruction:  World War II.
   Existing law provides that instruction in the area of social
sciences, as required pursuant to the adopted course of study for
grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall contain instruction on World War II
and the American role in that war.
   This bill would instead authorize the instruction in the area of
social sciences to contain instruction on World War II and the
American role in that war.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 51221.3 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   51221.3.  (a) Instruction in the area of social sciences, as
required pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 51220, may include
instruction on World War II and the American role in that war.  The
Legislature encourages that this instruction include, but not be
limited to, a component drawn from personal testimony, especially in
the form of oral or video history, if available, of American soldiers
who were involved in World War II and those men and women who
contributed to the war effort on the homefront.  The oral histories
used as part of the instruction regarding World War II shall
exemplify the personal sacrifice and courage of the wide range of
ordinary citizens who were called upon to participate.  The oral
histories shall contain the views and comments of their subjects
regarding the reasons for American participation in the war and the
actions taken to end the war in the Pacific.  These oral histories
shall also solicit comments from their subjects regarding the
aftermath of the war in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
   (b) This section shall be carried out in a manner that does not
result in any new duties or programs being imposed on the school
district.  In that regard, the Legislature finds and declares that
this section does not mandate costs to local agencies or school
districts and materials used to comply with this section shall be
part of normal curriculum materials purchased by school districts in
their normal course of business and purchasing cycles.