BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2269 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 2269 (Swanson) As Amended March 20, 2012 Majority vote EDUCATION 6-2 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Brownley, Ammiano, | | | | |Butler, Carter, Eng, | | | | |Williams | | | | | | | | |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------| |Nays:|Grove, Wagner | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY : Deems the month of May as Labor History Month and encourages school districts to commemorate that month with appropriate educational exercises that make pupils aware of the role that the labor movement has played in shaping California and the United States (U.S.), and repeals language deeming the first week of April as Labor History Week. EXISTING LAW : 1)Deems the first week of April to be Labor History Week and encourages school districts to commemorate that week with appropriate educational exercises that make pupils aware of the role that the labor movement has played in shaping California and the U.S. (Education Code (EC) Section 51009) 2)Designates March 31 as César Chávez Day and authorizes public schools and educational institutions throughout the state to include exercises, funded through existing resources, commemorating and directing attention to the history of the farm labor movement in the U.S. and particularly the role therein of César Chávez. Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt a model curriculum guide to be available for use by public schools for exercises related to César Chávez Day. (EC Section 37220.5) 3)Designates the second Wednesday in May of each year as the Day of the Teacher, a day having special significance, and encourages all public schools and educational institutions to AB 2269 Page 2 conduct exercises commemorating and directing attention to teachers and the teaching profession. (EC Section 37222.10) FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel. COMMENTS : Current law deems the first week of April to be Labor History Week and encourages schools to commemorate this week with appropriate educational exercises that make pupils aware of the role of the labor movement in shaping California and the U.S. This bill instead deems the month of May to be Labor History Month, thereby extending the timeframe when labor history may be commemorated in schools. Rationale for the changes: The author points out that for many school districts, the first week of April is Spring break and April is also a busy time for schools and pupils as they prepare for statewide assessment administrations. This makes it difficult for schools to commemorate Labor History Week during the current designated time. By extending the length of time, this bill potentially gives school districts more opportunities and flexibility to conduct educational activities that raise awareness about the labor movement as schools see fit and at any time during the month of May. The Speaker's Commission on Labor Education (Commission) was established on November 19, 2001, by then Speaker Robert M. Hertzberg to address issues of labor education in California's public school system. The Commission works closely with the Legislature, the California Department of Education (CDE), the California State Library, and the labor movement to hold events and disseminate information and instructional materials appropriate to Labor History Week. Information on the Commission's Internet Web site provides examples of ways in which labor history and concepts may be built into the curriculum and they include the following: 1)Discussions of child labor and working conditions, and examination of the labor movement, including its leaders, collective bargaining, strikes and protests over labor conditions. 2)Tracing of the evolution of work and labor, including the AB 2269 Page 3 demise of the slave trade and effects of immigration, mining and manufacturing. 3)Discussion of the advances and setbacks of organized labor. 4)Understanding the operations of the labor market, including the circumstances surrounding the establishment of principal American labor unions, procedures that unions use to gain benefits for their members, the effects of unionization, the minimum wage, and unemployment insurance. The author states, "Many teachers have indicated that the month of May would be more conducive to such observances. This bill would simply formalize that flexibility by establishing the month of May as Labor History Month. School districts would therefore have the flexibility to engage in labor history activities during other times during the month of May that work best for their own schedules." Arguments in support: The State Building and Construction Trades Council writes, "We believe it is critical for today's young scholars to understand the courageous struggles behind these achievements. As a member organization of the Speaker's Commission on Labor Education, we appreciate efforts in ensuring school districts teach and provide learning resources and opportunities to students about the historical achievements of the labor movement." Previous legislation: AB 1900 (Nakano), Chapter 366, Statues of 2002 deems the first week of April as Labor History Week throughout the public schools, and encourages school districts to commemorate this week with appropriate educational exercises that make pupils aware of the role the labor movement has played in shaping California and the U.S., and expresses legislative intent that California labor history, from the Spanish colonial period to the present day, be considered in the next cycle in which the history/social science curriculum framework and its accompanying instructional materials are adopted. Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avińa / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0003262 AB 2269 Page 4