BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 137|
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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
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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
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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
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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, Ch�vez, Chesbro, Conway,
Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier,
Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray,
Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hern�ndez, Jones,
Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mansoor,
Medina, Melendez, Mitchell, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi,
Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, V. Manuel
P�rez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Salas, Skinner, Stone,
Ting, Torres, Wagner, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams,
Yamada, John A. P�rez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Donnelly, Holden, Logue, Waldron, Vacancy
PQ:nl 8/14/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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