Amended in Assembly April 23, 2013

Amended in Assembly March 13, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 424

Introduced by Assembly Member Donnelly

February 15, 2013

An act to amend begin delete Sections end delete begin insert Section end insert 33540 begin delete and 51220 end delete 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.

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(1) Existing

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begin insert Existing end insert law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to ensure that certain historical documents are incorporated, as appropriate, into the history-social science framework.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 begin delete add end delete begin insert require the commission, when revising the history-social science framework, to do so based on the subject matter of the course in addition to appropriateness, to consider incorporating end insert the Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, and the California Constitution begin delete to the historical documents that are required to be incorporated into that framework and would require them to be incorporated based on the subject matter of the course. end delete begin insert into the history-social science framework, and to encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the governments of California and the United States of America, as specified. end 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.

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(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.

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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.

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(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.

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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.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program:  begin delete yes end delete begin insert no end insert .

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 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 begin delete ensure that end delete begin insert do end insert begin insert , as
appropriate and based on the subject matter of the course, all of end insert
the begin delete following historical documents are incorporated into the
framework, as appropriate, based on the subject matter of the
course: end delete begin insert following: end insert

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(1) Ensure the following historical documents are incorporated
in the framework:

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(1)

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begin insert (A) end insert  The Declaration of Independence.

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(2)

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begin insert (B) end insert  The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

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(3)

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begin insert (C) end insert  The Federalist Papers.

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(4)

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begin insert (D) end insert  The Emancipation Proclamation.

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(5)

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begin insert (E) end insert  The Gettysburg Address.

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(6)

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begin insert (F) end insert  George Washington’s Farewell Address.

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(7) The Magna Carta.

(8) The Articles of Confederation.

(9) The California Constitution.

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(2) Consider incorporating the following historical documents
into the framework:

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(A) The Magna Carta.

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(B) The Articles of Confederation.

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(C) The California Constitution.

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(3) Encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of
the governments of California and the United States of America,
including, but not limited to, the development of democracy and
the history of the development of the United States Constitution.

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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 governments of California
and the United States of 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, 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.

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This act shall not be construed as requiring the
Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically for purposes
of implementing the changes made by Section 1 of this act, and
any recommended revisions made pursuant to Section 1 of this act
shall be implemented in accordance with the regular adoption
schedule.

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SEC. 4.  

 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.

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