AB 1750, as introduced, Alejo. Pupil instruction: ethnic studies.
Existing law requires a school district, as part of its adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer courses in specified areas of study, including social sciences. Existing law establishes the Instructional Quality Commission and requires the commission to, among other things, recommend curriculum frameworks to the State Board of Education.
This bill would require the commission to identify model programs, standards, and curricula relating to ethnic studies at the high school level. The bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2016, to prepare and submit a report that, among other things, identifies the best practices and standards for establishing and implementing ethnic studies in public high schools, to the Governor and the Legislature, and to make the report available on the State Department of Education’s Internet Web site.
This bill would appropriate $125,000 to the State Department of Education for purposes of funding the report.
The funds appropriated by this bill would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
(a) The Instructional Quality Commission shall
2identify model programs, standards, and curricula relating to ethnic
3studies at the high school level. The commission shall also identify
4factors to train teachers to work effectively with diverse pupils
5and families and to encourage respect for diversity in the
6classroom.
7(b) The commission shall prepare a report that, at minimum,
8does all of the following:
9(1) Reviews the most current research on ethnic studies for
10secondary education.
11(2) Reviews and evaluates existing standards, curricula,
12programs, and training regarding ethnic studies
for secondary
13education.
14(3) Identifies the best practices and standards for establishing
15and implementing ethnic studies in public high schools.
16(4) Assesses the adequacy of current ethnic studies courses in
17California public high schools.
18(5) Makes recommendations for establishing a “California
19Cultures” multicultural or ethnic studies course that can be
20incorporated into existing high school curriculum.
21(c) The commission shall complete and submit the report to the
22Governor and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2016. The
23report shall also be made available to the public on the State
24Department of Education’s Internet Web site.
25(d) The commission may consult with experts on ethnic
studies,
26multiculturalism, or diversity including, but not limited to, all of
27the following:
28(1) Representatives from the State Department of Education.
29(2) Representatives from the University of California.
30(3) Representatives from the California State University.
31(4) Academic faculty, researchers, and scientists with
32backgrounds in ethnic studies, American studies, history, education,
33psychology, or medicine.
34(5) Representatives from community-based organizations
35concerned with pupil issues or civil rights.
P3 1(6) Representatives from professional associations relating to
2ethnic studies.
3(7) Educators in secondary education.
4(8) Public school board members with expertise in multicultural
5or ethnic studies.
6(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (d), this act shall not
7apply to the University of California, except to the extent that the
8Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution,
9make this section applicable.
10(f) (1) The report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall
11be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
12Code.
13(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
14section is repealed on January 1, 2019.
The sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars
16($125,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the
17State Department of Education for the purpose of funding the
18report required pursuant to Section 1 of this act.
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