BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 123
Page 1
Date of Hearing: March 20, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Joan Buchanan, Chair
AB 123 (Bonta) - As Introduced: January 14, 2013
SUBJECT : Pupil instruction: social sciences: farm labor
movement: Filipinos
SUMMARY : Requires instruction in the area of social sciences
to include instruction on the contributions of Filipino
Americans to the farm labor movement in California. Makes
findings and declarations regarding the composition of Filipino
Americans in California and the United States and the important
role Filipino Americans played in the formation and work of the
United Farm Workers.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Specifies that the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12
shall offer courses in specified areas of study, including
English, foreign language, physical education, science,
mathematics, visual and performing arts, applied arts, career
technical education, automobile driver education, and social
sciences. (Education Code (EC) Section 51220)
2)Requires social studies instruction to provide a foundation
for understanding the history, resources, development, and
government of California and the U.S.; instruction in our
American legal system, the operation of the juvenile and adult
criminal justice systems, and the rights and duties of
citizens under the criminal and civil law and the State and
Federal Constitutions; the development of the American
economic system, including the role of the entrepreneur and
labor; the relations of persons to their human and natural
environment; eastern and western cultures and civilizations;
and human rights issues, with particular attention to the
study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the
Holocaust, and contemporary issues. (EC 51220)
3)Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to ensure that the
state curriculum and framework include instruction on Cesar
Chavez and the history of the farm labor movement in the
United States and the criteria for selecting textbooks to
include sections highlighting the life of Cesar Chavez and the
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history of the farm labor movement in the United States. (EC
51008)
4)Specifies that instruction in the area of social sciences may
include instruction on World War II and the American role in
that war. Instruction may also include the Bracero program.
(EC 51221.3)
5)Expresses the encouragement of the Legislature that
instruction in the area of social sciences include instruction
on the role of Filipino Americans in World War II under the
leadership of General MacArthur and the instruction on the
"Secret War" in Laos and the role of southeast Asians in that
war. (EC 51221.3 and 51221.4)
6)Requires instruction in social sciences to include the early
history of California and a study of the role and
contributions of both men and women, Native Americans, African
Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific
Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members
of other ethnic and cultural groups, to the economic,
political, and social development of California and the U.S.,
with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these
groups in contemporary society. (EC 51204.5)
7)Requires instruction in the area of study of social sciences
to provide a foundation for understanding the wise use of
natural resources. (EC 51221)
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Current law specifies courses of study for pupils in
grades 1-12, and also requires instruction on various specific
topics. Within the social sciences, there are various specific
requirements, including instruction on the early history of
California and a study of the role and contributions of both men
and women and various minority groups to the economic,
political, and social development of California and the U.S.,
with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups
in contemporary society. Existing law also authorizes or
encourages specific subject content, including instruction on
the role and contributions of Filipino Americans in World War
II, the "Secret War" in Laos and the role of southeast Asians in
the Vietnam War, and the Bracero program.
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This bill requires instruction in the area of social sciences to
include instruction on the contributions of Filipino Americans
to the farm labor movement in California. The author states,
"The farm labor movement is a rich part of the history of
California and the United States. However, the history of the
contributions of the Filipino American community to the success
of this movement is largely unknown. Filipino American leaders,
including Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco and
Dolores Huerta, helped create the Agricultural Workers
Organization Committee (AWOC), a union of Filipino farm workers
that fought for fair wages and rights of all farm workers. The
AWOC was responsible for initiating the famous Delano Grape
Strike of 1965-70, a landmark event during the farm labor
movement. The strike led to the formation of the United Farm
Workers, which merged the AWOC and the National Farm Workers
Association, led by C�sar Ch�vez."
The author further argues that Filipino Americans represent the
second largest Asian American population in California and the
third largest in the United States. It is important for
Filipino Americans to know about the history of their
predecessors and recognize their contributions to California
history.
Content Standards and Curriculum Frameworks . California
curriculum is based on content standards. The curriculum
frameworks are guidelines for implementing the standards that
are developed by the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) and
approved by the SBE. The IQC is an 18-member commission
consisting of one member of the Assembly, one member of the
Senate, and 16 public members. At least seven of the public
members must have taught, written, or lectured on the subject
areas required for graduation. The history-social science
(H/SS) standards were developed in 1998 and the H/SS framework
was last revised in 2005. A review and update of this framework
was underway and nearly complete when the state suspended the
process on July 28, 2009 due to fiscal constraints. The SBE is
specifically prohibited from reviewing frameworks and adopting
instructional materials until the 2015-16 school year. SB 1540
(Hancock), Chapter 288, Statutes of 2012, authorizes the SBE to
consider the adoption of a revised curriculum framework and
evaluation criteria for instructional materials in H/SS, but
prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from
conducting any work until after CDE has completed work related
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to the development of curriculum frameworks for the common core
content standards.
A number of bills have been introduced this year proposing to
require the instruction of a specific topic. The Committee
should consider the extent to which content should be developed
through statutory incorporation versus through the IQC process.
The IQC members have subject matter expertise and can balance
competing demands for limited instructional time.
Existing law already requires the SBE to ensure that the state
curriculum and framework include instruction on Cesar Chavez and
the history of the farm labor movement in the United States.
This requirement has been incorporated into the fourth grade
framework on the California economy. Specifically, the
framework prescribes instruction on Cesar Chavez and his impact
on labor conditions in the agricultural industry. The 2005 H/SS
framework also references the United Farm Workers in two places
for the 11th grade in the context of the civil rights movement
and during discussions about the role of organized labor in the
postindustrial and multinational economy.
Rather than create a new section with a new requirement, staff
recommends expanding on existing law requiring instruction on
Cesar Chavez and the history of the farm labor movement in the
United States to include the role of all immigrants, including
Filipino Americans.
The author has also requested technical amendments to change all
references to "United Farm Workers" to "farm worker labor
movement" and make other minor changes in the findings and
declarations section of the bill.
Arguments in support . The National Federation of Filipino
American Associations states, "Filipino American labor played an
influential and historic role in building today's American labor
movement. Important leaders, such as Larry Itliong and Philip
Vera Cruz, made significant contributions by organizing
California farm workers to fight for justice and fairness in the
work place. They were pioneers and trailblazers in advancing
the interests not only of Filipinos but all workers who were
exploited and treated unjustly and deprived of their rights.
And yet, their accomplishments have been largely overlooked in
public school curriculums."
AB 123
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Related legislation . AB 137 (Buchanan), pending in this
Committee, requires the IQC to receive input from specified
experts on civic learning the next time the history-social
science frameworks are revised and specifies civic learning
content to be taught.
AB 166 (Hern�ndez), also on today's agenda, requires instruction
in economics provided in grades 7 through 12 to include
instruction related to personal finances.
AB 424 (Donnelly), pending in this Committee, adds the Magana
Carta, the Articles of Confederation, and the California
Constitution to the historical documents that are required to be
incorporated into H/SS framework and requires instruction in the
social sciences to include the development of democracy and the
history of the development of the United States Constitution.
AB 700 (Gomez), pending in this Committee, requires instruction
in the social sciences in grade 8 and in any grades 9 to 12,
inclusive, and the one-semester course in American government
and civics that is required for high school graduation, to
include a voter education component providing instruction in how
to register and cast votes in local, state, and federal
elections, and how to use the voter information pamphlet and
other materials to become an informed voter.
SB 552 (Calderon), pending in the Senate Education Committee,
provides that instruction in the area of social sciences may
include instruction on violence awareness, which may include a
component drawn from personal testimony in the form of oral or
video histories of individuals who were involved with violence
awareness efforts.
Prior related legislation . SB 993 (De Le�n), Chapter 211,
Statutes of 2012, authorizes instruction in social science for
grades 7-12 to include information about the Bracero program.
AB 1967 (Perez), Chapter 582, Statutes of 2012, requires the IQC
and the SBE to ensure the health and science frameworks, adopted
in the course of the next submission cycle, include the subject
of organ procurement and tissue donation.
AB 199 (Ma & Cook), Chapter 607, Statutes of 2011, encourages
social studies instruction to include instruction on the role
and contributions of Filipino Americans in the U.S. army in
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World War II.
SB 48 (Leno), Chapter 81, Statutes of 2011, requires instruction
in social science to include the role and contributions of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Alameda Education Association
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
Anakbayan East Bay
Anakbayan Los Angeles
Anakbayan San Diego
Anakbayan Seattle
Anakbayan Silicon Valley
Asian Americans for Advancing Justice
Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality
California Immigrant Policy Center
Club Asian Sentinels Integration & Awareness, Belmont High
School
Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County
Filipino Advocates for Justice
Filipino-American Educators Association of California
Filipino American Educators Association of San Diego County
Filipino Memorial Project
Filipino Migrant Center
Manilatown Heritage Foundation
National Federation of Filipino American Associations
Philippine National Day Association
Philipino American Society for Education
UCLA, Asian Pacific Coalition
UCLA, Afrikan Student Union
UCLA, American Indian Student Association
UCLA, Muslim Students Association
UCLA, Samahang Pilipino
UCLA, Vietnamese Student Union
United Farm Workers
University of the Philippines Alumni Association - Sacramento &
Vicinity
Numerous individuals
Opposition
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None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Sophia Kwong Kim / ED. / (916) 319-2087