California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 424

Introduced by Assembly Member Donnelly

February 15, 2013

An act to amend Sections 33540 and 51220 of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 424, as introduced, Donnelly. Pupil instruction: social sciences: State and Federal Constitutions.

(1) Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to ensure that certain historical documents are incorporated, as appropriate, into the history-social science framework.

This bill would add the Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, and the California Constitution to the historical documents that are required to be incorporated into that framework and would require them to be incorporated based on the subject matter of the course.

(2) Existing law requires instruction in social sciences for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America.

This bill would require instruction in the social sciences also to include the development of democracy and the history of the development of the United States Constitution. To the extent that this requirement would require additional instruction, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

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

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 begin delete State Board of Education end delete begin insert state board end insert 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.

(b) When the history-social science framework is revised as
required by law, the commission shall ensure that the following
historical documents are incorporated into the framework, as
begin delete appropriate: end delete begin insert appropriate, based on the subject matter of the course: end insert

(1) The Declaration of Independence.

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

(3) The Federalist Papers.

(4) The Emancipation Proclamation.

(5) The Gettysburg Address.

(6) George Washington’s Farewell Address.

begin insert

(7) The Magna Carta.

end insert begin insert

(8) The Articles of Confederation.

end insert begin insert

(9) The California Constitution.

end insert

SEC. 2.  

Section 51220 of the Education Code is amended to
read:

51220.  

The adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12,
inclusive, shall offer courses in the following areas of study:

(a) English, including knowledge of and appreciation for
literature, language, and composition, and the skills of reading,
listening, and speaking.

(b) Social sciences, drawing upon the disciplines of
anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science,
psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the
pupils. Instruction shall provide a foundation for understanding
the history, resources, development, and government of California
and the United States of begin delete America; end delete begin insert America, including the
development of democracy and the history of the development of
the United States Constitution; end insert instruction in our American legal
system, the operation of the juvenile and adult criminal justice
systems, and the rights and duties of citizens under the criminal
and civil law and the State and Federal Constitutions; the
development of the American economic system, including the role
of the entrepreneur and labor; the relations of persons to their
human and natural environment; eastern and western cultures and
civilizations; human rights issues, with particular attention to the
study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust,
and contemporary issues.

(c) Foreign language or languages, beginning not later than
grade 7, designed to develop a facility for understanding, speaking,
reading, and writing the particular language.

(d) Physical education, with emphasis given to physical activities
that are conducive to health and to vigor of body and mind, as
required by Section 51222.

(e) Science, including the physical and biological aspects, with
emphasis on basic concepts, theories, and processes of scientific
investigation and on the place of humans in ecological systems,
and with appropriate applications of the interrelation and
interdependence of the sciences.

(f) Mathematics, including instruction designed to develop
mathematical understandings, operational skills, and insight into
problem-solving procedures.

(g) Visual and performing arts, including dance, music, theater,
and visual arts, with emphasis upon development of aesthetic
appreciation and the skills of creative expression.

(h) Applied arts, including instruction in the areas of consumer
and homemaking education, industrial arts, general business
education, or general agriculture.

(i) Career technical education designed and conducted for the
purpose of preparing youth for gainful employment in the
occupations and in the numbers that are appropriate to the
personnel needs of the state and the community served and relevant
to the career desires and needs of the pupils.

(j) Automobile driver education, designed to develop a
knowledge of the provisions of the Vehicle Code and other laws
of this state relating to the operation of motor vehicles, a proper
acceptance of personal responsibility in traffic, a true appreciation
of the causes, begin delete seriousness end delete begin insert seriousness, end insert and consequences of traffic
accidents, and to develop the knowledge and attitudes necessary
for the safe operation of motor vehicles. A course in automobile
driver education shall include education in the safe operation of
motorcycles.

(k) Other studies as may be prescribed by the governing board.

SEC. 3.  

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines
that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement
to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.