BILL NUMBER: SB 672 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 4, 2007
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 28, 2007
INTRODUCED BY Senator Torlakson
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
An act to amend, repeal, and add Section 51225.3 of the Education
Code, relating to pupil instruction.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 672, as amended, Torlakson. Pupil instruction: courses of
study: graduation requirements.
Under existing law, except as specified, a pupil may not receive a
diploma of graduation from high school if that pupil, while in
grades 9 to 12, inclusive, has not completed specified courses of
study.
This bill, commencing with the 2013-14 school year, would also
require pupils, while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to complete 2
courses in career technical education to receive a high school
graduation diploma. High schools would be required to offer
those courses within their existing school calendars. Because
the addition of these required courses would mandate a higher level
of service by school districts, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares the
following:
(a) The foundational principle of the Education Code is that all
pupils have access to equitable educational opportunities and
resources.
(b) Evidence supports the undeniable conclusion that pupils who
reside in affluent suburban communities have access to more
educational resources in both their schools and neighborhoods than
pupils from poorer communities in urban or rural areas.
(c) The future of the state is dependent upon minimizing, if not
entirely alleviating, the inequities in our public schools so that
all children will have more equitable opportunities to learn skills
needed for entry into the workforce, to pursue postsecondary
educational goals, and to contribute to the social cohesion of the
state.
(d) Current law specifies the courses a pupil must take in order
to graduate from high school. However, too many pupils are graduating
without the necessary foundation to succeed in the workplace or in
postsecondary education.
SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature that all of the
following occur:
(a) By specifying the types of coursework that pupils must
complete in order to graduate, pupils will have world class skills
and the workforce of the state will be competitive in the global
economy.
(b) The changes in graduation requirements enacted by this act are
scheduled to take effect for pupils entering grade 9 in the 2010-11
school year.
(c) The timeframe of this act shall ensure that secondary schools
and their respective feeder elementary and middle schools will have
sufficient time in which to make changes in their courses of study so
that pupils will be prepared to meet the academic and technical
skills challenges of the high school curriculum.
(d) In order to increase the rigor of the coursework and to ensure
that pupils are prepared to meet the demands of the 21st century,
the courses required for high school graduation must be aligned with
standards and frameworks that are adopted by the State Board of
Education.
SEC. 3. Section 51225.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:
51225.3. (a) A pupil shall not receive a diploma of graduation
from high school who, while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, has not
completed all of the following:
(1) At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects
specified, each course having a duration of one year, unless
otherwise specified.
(A) Three courses in English.
(B) Two courses in mathematics.
(C) Two courses in science, including biological and physical
sciences.
(D) Three courses in social studies, including United States
history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a
one-semester course in American government and civics, and a
one-semester course in economics.
(E) One course in visual or performing arts or foreign language.
For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this
subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a
course in foreign language.
(F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been
exempted pursuant to this code.
(2) Other coursework as the governing board of the school district
may by rule specify.
(b) The governing board, with the active involvement of parents,
administrators, teachers, and pupils, shall adopt alternative means
for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study that may
include practical demonstration of skills and competencies,
supervised work experience or other outside school experience, career
technical education classes offered in high schools, courses offered
by regional occupational centers or programs, interdisciplinary
study, independent study, and credit earned at a postsecondary
institution. Requirements for graduation and specified alternative
modes for completing the prescribed course of study shall be made
available to pupils, parents, and the public.
(c) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2013, and, as
of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on
which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 4. Section 51225.3 is added to the Education Code, to read:
51225.3. (a) Commencing with the 2013-14 school year, a pupil
shall not receive a diploma of graduation from high school who, while
in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, has not completed all of the
following:
(1) At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects
specified, each course having a duration of one year, unless
otherwise specified:
(A) Three courses in English.
(B) Two courses in mathematics.
(C) Two courses in science, including biological and physical
sciences.
(D) Three courses in social studies, including United States
history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a
one-semester course in American government and civics, and a
one-semester course in economics.
(E) One course in visual or performing arts or foreign language.
For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this
subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a
course in foreign language.
(F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been
exempted pursuant to this code.
(G) Two courses in career technical education. A high school
shall offer courses for purposes of this subparagraph within its
existing school calendar.
(2) Other coursework as the governing board of the school district
may by rule specify.
(b) The governing board, with the active involvement of parents,
administrators, teachers, and pupils, shall adopt alternative means
for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study that may
include practical demonstration of skills and competencies,
supervised work experience or other outside school experience,
courses offered by regional occupational centers or programs,
interdisciplinary study, independent study, and credit earned at a
postsecondary institution. Requirements for graduation and specified
alternative modes for completing the prescribed course of study shall
be made available to pupils, parents, and the public.
(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2013.
SEC. 5. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.