BILL NUMBER: AB 424	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


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ensure that certain historical documents are incorporated, as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Confederation, and the California Constitution to the historical
documents that are required to be incorporated into that framework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  State Board of Education  
state board  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 
appropriate:   appropriate, based on the subject matter
of the course: 
   (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. 
   (7) The Magna Carta.  
   (8) The Articles of Confederation.  
   (9) The California Constitution. 
  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
 America;   America, including the development
of democracy and the history of the development of the United States
Constitution;  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,  seriousness   seriousness,  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.