BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
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As Amended May 22, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |76-0 |(May 19, 2014) |SENATE: |33-0 |(June 5, 2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: ED.
SUMMARY : Designates the month of May as Living Schoolyard
Month. Specifically, this resolution :
1)Makes findings regarding the benefits of green space in
schools, including the following:
a) Urban development often disconnects communities from
natural systems, wildlife, and seasonal changes.
b) Environmental sustainability has become a high priority
in urban planning and design, and should be incorporated in
construction and renovation of schools. Schools can
benefit their surrounding communities through thoughtful
design and use of their grounds, paying mind to local
ecological, social, and cultural context.
c) An ecological schoolyard setting provides a peaceful,
comfortable, and aesthetically pleasant environment for
students, particularly for those students who lack the
desire or ability to engage in competitive, fast-paced, or
more structured activities.
d) Childhood obesity and its related health issues have
become a public policy concern in the United States and
California, particularly in low-income communities.
e) An on-campus green space, such as a school garden, is a
fundamental component of a school environment intended to
include and empower students, giving them a sense of place
and community.
f) Children should be given the opportunity to reflect and
embrace their local ecological, social, and cultural
context in both recreational and instructional settings.
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g) Outdoor classrooms provide clearer context for
standards-based instruction in life and physical sciences,
health and nutrition, and social science.
h) The Instructional School Gardens Program has been
established by the Legislature for the promotion, creation,
and support of instructional school gardens.
2)Resolves that the Legislature designates the month of May as
Living Schoolyard Month and urges the California Department of
Education (CDE), school districts, county offices of
education, and charter schools to continue to prioritize the
design and construction of student-accessible green space on
school campuses and to integrate use of this space into the
teaching of standards-based curriculum.
The Senate amendment strikes the designation of May 2014 as
Living Schoolyard Month and instead designates the month of May
annually as Living Schoolyard Month.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : School districts applying for state school facilities
bond funds are required to submit plans to the CDE for review to
ensure that the site selected for a school meets safety
requirements and to ensure that the design of the school will
meet the educational program objectives. CDE's guidelines
include recommendations for the amount of acreage for a school
based on the number of pupils to be accommodated at the
schoolsite. For example, CDE recommends 9.1 acres for an
elementary school enrolling 500 pupils. Of the 9.1 acres, CDE
recommends 5.7 acres devoted for outdoor area. Schools are
required to have an outdoor area; however, there is no minimum
amount of open area required and no requirement for the use of
the outdoor area (e.g., football or baseball fields,
playgrounds, gardens, lawns, etc.).
Existing law encourages schools to establish school garden
programs. School garden programs have many functions and
benefits. In addition to being an instructional program, school
garden programs can supply produce for a school's meal program
and teach kids the benefits of making healthier food choices
such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Garden programs also
provide an opportunity to teach composting, including
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vermiposting using worms. In 1995, the CDE launched the Garden
in Every School initiative and collaborates with entities that
support school gardens, including public and private
agricultural agencies, waste management agencies, health
agencies and others.
In 2006, AB 1535 (Núñez), Chapter 427, provided $15 million for
a grant program to be devised by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction. Funds were used for instructional school garden
equipment or supplies and professional development for teachers,
garden volunteers and food service staff. According to the CDE,
approximately 3,500 schoolsites received grants.
This resolution recognizes the value of incorporating green
space, including school gardens, in the design and construction
of schools and in the curriculum. The resolution finds that an
ecological schoolyard would provide a peaceful environment for
students to enjoy outdoor activities, and provide opportunities
for students to learn in outdoor classrooms. This resolution
designates the month of May annually as Living Schoolyard Month
and urges the CDE, school districts, county offices of
education, and charter schools to continue to prioritize the
design and construction of student-accessible green space on
school campuses and to integrate the use of this space into the
teaching of standards-based curriculum.
The author states, "Living Schoolyard Month celebrates the
benefits of the design, construction, and use of on-site green
space in K-12 education. Ecologically designed schoolyards can
be integrated into the teaching of standards-based curriculum,
allowing children to make the connection between themselves and
the natural world and making them more aware of their impact on
the changing earth they are soon to inherit. Additionally, a
schoolyard is a strategically centralized location ideal for
increasing local environmental awareness, building community
identity, and a fostering shared responsibility for the school's
role in helping a neighborhood thrive. In urban areas, a living
schoolyard also plays a vital role in sequestering runoff,
providing habitat for local wildlife, and improving air quality.
This resolution encourages the greening of schoolsites in all
California communities and acknowledges the efforts of those who
plan, build, maintain, and enhance a living schoolyard with
their time and hard work."
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Analysis Prepared by : Sophia Kwong Kim / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0003905