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, 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, to receive input from civics 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 all appropriate grade levels, and to consider how civics and learning instruction include the application of that content.
begin insertThe bill would make a statement of legislative intent with regard to the subsequent history-social science framework.
end insertVote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 33540 of the Education Code is amended
2to read:
(a) The state board and the department shall request
4that the commission review and revise, as necessary, the course
5requirements in the history-social science framework developed
6by the History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Criteria
7Committee of the state board to ensure that minimum standards
8for courses in American government and civics include sufficient
9attention to teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner,
10with state and local governmental agencies and representatives to
11solve problems and to petition for changes in laws and procedures
12and that these course requirements are also included in all history
13and social science courses and grade levels, as appropriate.
14(b) Whenever the history-social science framework is revised
15as required by law, the commission shall do all of the following:
16 (1) Receive input from civics learning experts, including civics
17education program providers, associations of civics educators, and
18organizations dedicated to research on civics learning, for the
19purpose of integrating civics learning content, concepts, and skills,
20at all appropriate grade levels, with the standards established by
21the state board in core curriculum areas, as specified in Section
2260605.
23(2) Consider how civics and history instruction, at all appropriate
24grade levels, includes, in addition to the acquisition of content
25knowledge, the application of that content
to develop the
26competence and skills needed for civic engagement.
27(3) Ensure that the following historical documents are
28incorporated into the framework, as appropriate:
29(A) The Declaration of Independence.
30(B) The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
31(C) The Federalist Papers.
P3 1(D) The Emancipation Proclamation.
2(E) The Gettysburg Address.
3(F) George Washington’s Farewell Address.
begin insert
4(c) It is the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of only the
5history-social science framework that is revised subsequent to the
6effective date of the act amending this section, that the
7requirements imposed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of
8subdivision (b) may be satisfied under the framework adoption
9procedures currently being utilized by the department as of January
101, 2014.
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