BILL NUMBER: AB 424 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 23, 2013
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 13, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Donnelly
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
An act to amend Sections Section
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
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Commission to ensure that certain historical documents are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 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 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Constitution to the historical documents that are required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.
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. 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.
(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 no .
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 ensure that
do , as appropriate and based on the subject matter
of the course, all of the following historical
documents are incorporated into the framework, as appropriate, based
on the subject matter of the course: following:
(1) Ensure the following historical documents are incorporated in
the framework:
(1)
(A) The Declaration of Independence.
(2)
(B) The United States Constitution, including the Bill
of Rights.
(3)
(C) The Federalist Papers.
(4)
(D) The Emancipation Proclamation.
(5)
(E) The Gettysburg Address.
(6)
(F) George Washington's Farewell Address.
(7) The Magna Carta.
(8) The Articles of Confederation.
(9) The California Constitution.
(2) Consider incorporating the following historical documents into
the framework:
(A) The Magna Carta.
(B) The Articles of Confederation.
(C) The California Constitution.
(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.
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.
SEC. 3. SEC. 2. 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.
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.