BILL NUMBER: AB 1750 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Alejo
FEBRUARY 14, 2014
An act to add and repeal Section 33543
33544 of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1750, as amended, Alejo. Pupil instruction: ethnic studies:
report.
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 to consult
with experts on ethnic studies, multiculturalism, or diversity,
including, among others, representatives from the State Department of
Education and classroom teachers who are currently teaching in
California public high schools. 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. The bill would make the implementation of the
bill's provisions subject to the availability of funds to the
commission for those purposes from any source, including state,
federal, and other nonstate funding sources.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 33543 33544 is
added to the Education Code, to read:
33543. 33544. (a) The commission
shall identify model programs, standards, and curricula relating to
ethnic studies at the high school level. The commission shall also
identify factors to train teachers to work effectively with diverse
pupils and families and to encourage respect for diversity in the
classroom.
(b) The commission shall prepare a report that, at minimum, does
all of the following:
(1) Reviews the most current research on ethnic studies for
secondary education.
(2) Reviews and evaluates existing standards, curricula, programs,
and training regarding ethnic studies for secondary education.
(3) Identifies the best practices and standards for establishing
and implementing ethnic studies in public high schools.
(4) Assesses the adequacy of current ethnic studies courses in
California public high schools.
(5) Makes recommendations for establishing a "California Cultures"
multicultural or ethnic studies course that can be incorporated into
existing high school curriculum.
(c) The commission shall complete and submit the report to the
Governor and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2016. The report
shall also be made available to the public on the department's
Internet Web site.
(d) (1) The commission may
shall consult with experts on ethnic studies,
multiculturalism, or diversity including, but not limited to, all of
the following:
(1)
(A) Representatives from the department.
(2)
(B) Representatives from the University of California.
(3)
(C) Representatives from the California State
University.
(4)
(D) Academic faculty, researchers, and scientists with
backgrounds in ethnic studies, American studies, history, education,
psychology, or medicine.
(5)
(E) Representatives from community-based organizations
concerned with pupil issues or civil rights.
(6)
(F) Representatives from professional associations
relating to ethnic studies.
(7) Educators in secondary education.
(G) Classroom teachers who are currently teaching in California
public high schools.
(8)
(H) Public school board members with expertise in
multicultural or ethnic studies.
(2) In choosing experts with which to consult, the commission is
encouraged to ensure that current classroom teachers in public high
schools are principally and meaningfully consulted.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (d), this act shall not
apply to the University of California, except to the extent that the
Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution,
make this section applicable.
(f) (1) The report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall
be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
section is repealed on January 1, 2019.
(g) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that
funds are available to the commission for purposes of this section
from any source, including, but not limited to, state funding,
federal funding, and other nonstate funding sources.