BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 137| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- THIRD READING Bill No: AB 137 Author: Buchanan (D) Amended: 6/19/13 in Senate Vote: 21 SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 9-0, 6/12/13 AYES: Liu, Wyland, Block, Correa, Hancock, Hueso, Huff, Monning, Torres SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8 ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 5/9/13 (Consent) - See last page for vote SUBJECT : History-social science framework: civics SOURCE : Author DIGEST : This bill requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC), when revising the history-social science framework, to receive input from civics learning experts and consider how civics and history instruction includes the application of that content, as specified. ANALYSIS : Academic content standards define the knowledge, concepts, and skills that pupils should acquire at each grade level. Curricular frameworks are the blueprint for implementing the standards, and include criteria by which instructional materials are evaluated. The processes for reviewing frameworks and adopting CONTINUED AB 137 Page 2 instructional materials have been suspended since July 28, 2009. The State Board of Education (SBE) is specifically prohibited from reviewing frameworks and adopting instructional materials until the 2015-16 school year, except as provided below. Notwithstanding the suspension, existing law: 1.Requires the SBE to adopt revised frameworks that are aligned to the common core standards in: A. Mathematics by November 30, 2013. B. English language arts by May 30, 2014. 1.Authorizes the SBE to adopt a revised framework for history social science, but only after the California Department of Education has completed work related to the frameworks for the common core standards. Civics is generally included in the history-social science standards and framework, with several references to the United States and California Constitutions and democracy. Existing law requires the SBE and the California Department of Education (CDE) to request that the IQC 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 sufficient attention to teaching students 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. When the history-social science framework is revised, the IQC must ensure that the following historical documents are incorporated into the framework, as appropriate: The Declaration of Independence. The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. The Federalist Papers. The Emancipation Proclamation. The Gettysburg Address. George Washington's Farewell Address. This bill requires the IQC, when revising the history-social science framework, to receive input from civics learning experts AB 137 Page 3 and consider how civics and history instruction includes the application of that content. Specifically, this bill: 1.Requires the IQC, whenever the history-social science framework is revised, to do all of the following: A. Receive input from civics learning experts for the purpose of integrating civics learning content, concepts and skills, at all appropriate grade levels, with the standards in core curriculum areas. B. 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. 1.Specifies that civics learning experts include civics education program providers, associations of civics educators, and organizations dedicated to research on civics learning. 2.Requires the SBE and CDE to request the IQC to ensure that course requirements for American government and civics are included in all history and social science courses and grade levels, as appropriate. 3.States legislative intent that the requirements imposed by this bill be satisfied through the existing process to revise and update the history-social science framework. Comments According to the author, "While the intent of any civic education is to provide students with an understanding of our national and state governments, civic education goes far beyond an academic understanding of democracy. The ultimate goal of any civic education program must be to encourage individuals to actively engage in the practice of democracy in the United States and other countries. Civic education in our K-12 schools is a critical first step to ensure that the principles of democracy continue." FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No AB 137 Page 4 According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis, to the extent the requirements of this bill can be met through the scheduled history-social science curriculum framework review process, there will be minor, absorbable General Fund costs to the CDE to implement this measure. If these requirements cannot be achieved within the existing review process, there will likely be one-time General Fund administrative costs to CDE between $75,000 and $100,000. SUPPORT : (Verified 8/14/13) Association of California School Administrators California Chamber of Commerce California Council for Social Studies California Federation of Teachers California Teachers Association Los Angeles County Office of Education Sonoma County Bar Association ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 5/9/13 AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Blumenfield, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hernández, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Mitchell, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Torres, Wagner, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, Yamada, John A. Pérez NO VOTE RECORDED: Donnelly, Holden, Logue, Waldron, Vacancy PQ:nl 8/14/13 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END **** AB 137 Page 5