Amended in Assembly March 13, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

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(1) Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to ensure that certain historical documents are incorporated, as appropriate, into the history-social science framework.

This bill would add the Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, and the California Constitution to the historical documents that are required to be incorporated into that framework and would require them to be incorporated based on the subject matter of the course.begin insert The bill would require that it not be construed as requiring the Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically for purposes of implementing the changes made by the bill and would require any recommended revisions made by the bill to be implemented in accordance with the regular adoption schedule.end insert

(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:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 33540 of the Education Code is amended
2to read:

3

33540.  

(a) The state board and the department shall request
4that the commission review and revise, as necessary, the course
5requirements in the history-social science framework developed
6by the History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Criteria
7Committee of the state board to ensure that minimum standards
8for courses in American government and civics include sufficient
9attention to teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner,
10with state and local governmental agencies and representatives to
11solve problems and to petition for changes in laws and procedures.

12(b) When the history-social science framework is revised as
13required by law, the commission shall ensure that the following
14historical documents are incorporated into the framework, as
15appropriate, based on the subject matter of the course:

16(1) The Declaration of Independence.

17(2) The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

18(3) The Federalist Papers.

19(4) The Emancipation Proclamation.

20(5) The Gettysburg Address.

21(6) George Washington’s Farewell Address.

22(7) The Magna Carta.

23(8) The Articles of Confederation.

24(9) The California Constitution.

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SEC. 2.  

Section 51220 of the Education Code is amended to
2read:

3

51220.  

The adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12,
4inclusive, shall offer courses in the following areas of study:

5(a) English, including knowledge of and appreciation for
6literature, language, and composition, and the skills of reading,
7listening, and speaking.

8(b) Social sciences, drawing upon the disciplines of
9anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science,
10psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the
11pupils. Instruction shall provide a foundation for understanding
12the history, resources, development, andbegin delete governmentend deletebegin insert governmentsend insert
13 of California and the United States of America, including the
14development of democracy and the history of the development of
15the United States Constitution; instruction in our American legal
16system, the operation of the juvenile and adult criminal justice
17systems, and the rights and duties of citizens under the criminal
18and civil law and the State and Federal Constitutions; the
19development of the American economic system, including the role
20of the entrepreneur and labor; the relations of persons to their
21human and natural environment; eastern and western cultures and
22civilizations; human rights issues, with particular attention to the
23study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust,
24and contemporary issues.

25(c) Foreign language or languages, beginning not later than
26grade 7, designed to develop a facility for understanding, speaking,
27reading, and writing the particular language.

28(d) Physical education, with emphasis given to physical activities
29that are conducive to health and to vigor of body and mind, as
30required by Section 51222.

31(e) Science, including the physical and biological aspects, with
32emphasis on basic concepts, theories, and processes of scientific
33investigation and on the place of humans in ecological systems,
34and with appropriate applications of the interrelation and
35interdependence of the sciences.

36(f) Mathematics, including instruction designed to develop
37mathematical understandings, operational skills, and insight into
38problem-solving procedures.

P4    1(g) Visual and performing arts, including dance, music, theater,
2and visual arts, with emphasis upon development of aesthetic
3appreciation and the skills of creative expression.

4(h) Applied arts, including instruction in the areas of consumer
5and homemaking education, industrial arts, general business
6education, or general agriculture.

7(i) Career technical education designed and conducted for the
8purpose of preparing youth for gainful employment in the
9occupations and in the numbers that are appropriate to the
10personnel needs of the state and the community served and relevant
11to the career desires and needs of the pupils.

12(j) Automobile driver education, designed to develop a
13knowledge of the provisions of the Vehicle Code and other laws
14of this state relating to the operation of motor vehicles, a proper
15acceptance of personal responsibility in traffic, a true appreciation
16of the causes, seriousness, and consequences of traffic accidents,
17and to develop the knowledge and attitudes necessary for the safe
18operation of motor vehicles. A course in automobile driver
19education shall include education in the safe operation of
20motorcycles.

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

22begin insert

begin insertSEC. 3.end insert  

end insert

begin insertThis act shall not be construed as requiring the
23Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically for purposes
24of implementing the changes made by Section 1 of this act, and
25any recommended revisions made pursuant to Section 1 of this act
26shall be implemented in accordance with the regular adoption
27schedule.end insert

28

begin deleteSEC. 3.end delete
29begin insertSEC. 4.end insert  

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
30this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
31local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
32pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
334 of Title 2 of the Government Code.



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