BILL NUMBER: AB 1537	CHAPTERED  09/17/03

	CHAPTER  400
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 17, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 16, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 28, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 21, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 24, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 19, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 21, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wyland

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2003

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1537, Wyland.  Education:  curriculum.
   Under existing law, the adopted course of study for grades 7 to
12, inclusive, is required to include instruction in the social
sciences, as prescribed.
   Existing law requires that instruction to contain instruction on
World War II and the American role in that war.  Existing law
expresses the Legislature's encouragement that the instruction
include a component drawn from personal testimony of American
soldiers who were involved in World War II and those men and women
who contributed to the war effort on the homefront. Existing law
specifies that the instruction be carried out in a manner that does
not result in any new duties or programs imposed on school districts.

   This bill would, instead, authorize the inclusion of instruction
on World War II and the American role in that war, and would make
conforming changes.  The bill would make a finding and declaration
that the current state-adopted academic content standards already
include instruction on the Korean and Vietnam Wars in the appropriate
grade level consistent with those standards, and would encourage
that the instruction include personal testimony of those involved in
the Korean and Vietnam Wars.


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) The Legislature finds and declares that the current
state-adopted academic content standards already include instruction
on the Korean War and the Vietnam War in the appropriate grade level
consistent with those standards.  The Legislature encourages that
this instruction include a component drawn from personal testimony,
especially in the form of oral or video history, if available, of
American soldiers who were involved in those wars.