Amended in Assembly April 10, 2013

Amended in Assembly March 14, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 137

Introduced by Assembly Member Buchanan

January 16, 2013

An act to amend Section 33540 of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 137, as amended, Buchanan. Pupil instruction: civics.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to review and revise, as necessary, the course requirements in the history-social science framework to ensure that minimum standards for courses in American government and civics include certain matters.

This bill would additionally require the commission, when revising the history-social science framework, begin insert to ensure that the course requirements include teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner, with state and local governmental agencies and representatives to solve problems and to petition for changes in laws and procedures, and that these course requirements are included in all history and social science course and grade levels, as appropriate. The commission would also be required, whenever the framework is revised, end insert to receive input from begin delete civic end delete begin insert civics end insert learning experts, for the purpose of integrating civics learning content, concepts, and skills with the standards established by the State Board of Education in core curriculum areas at begin delete each end delete begin insert all appropriate end insert grade begin delete level, end delete begin insert levels, end insert and to begin delete ensure that the civics learning content, concepts, and skills to be taught include certain matters end delete begin insert consider how civics and learning instruction include the application of that content end insert .

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 33540 of the Education Code is amended
to read:

33540.  

(a) The state board and the department shall request
that the commission review and revise, as necessary, the course
requirements in the history-social science framework developed
by the History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Criteria
Committee of the state board to ensure that minimum standards
for courses in American government and civics include sufficient
attention to teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner,
with state and local governmental agencies and representatives to
solve problems and to petition for changes in laws and procedures
begin insert and that these course requirements are also included in all history
and social science courses and grade levels, as appropriate end insert .

(b)  begin delete When end delete begin insert Whenever end insert the history-social science framework is
revised as required by law, the commission shall do all of the
following:

(1) Receive input from begin delete civic end delete begin insert civics end insert learning experts, including
begin delete civic end delete begin insert civics end insert education program providers, associations of begin delete civic end delete
begin insert civics end insert educators, and organizations dedicated to research on begin delete civic end delete
begin insert civics end insert learning, for the purpose of integrating civics learning
content, concepts, and skills, at begin delete each end delete begin insert all appropriate end insert grade begin delete level end delete
begin insert levels end insert , with the standards established by the state board in core
curriculum areas, as specified in Section 60605.

(2)  begin delete Ensure that the civics learning content, concepts, and skills
to be taught include, but not be limited to, a basic understanding
of the responsibilities and operation of the three branches of state
and federal government, the importance of civic engagement, and
the competencies needed to become effective and responsible
residents and citizens in the 21st century. end delete begin insert Consider how civics and
history instruction, at all appropriate grade levels, includes, in
addition to the acquisition of content knowledge, the application
of that content to develop the competence and skills needed for
civic engagement. end insert

(3) Ensure that the following historical documents are
incorporated into the framework, as appropriate:

(A) The Declaration of Independence.

(B) The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

(C) The Federalist Papers.

(D) The Emancipation Proclamation.

(E) The Gettysburg Address.

(F) George Washington’s Farewell Address.