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 wouldbegin delete requireend deletebegin insert authorizeend insert 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,begin delete 2016,end deletebegin insert 2017,end insert to prepare and submit a reportbegin insert to the Governor and the Legislatureend insert that, among other things, identifies the best practices and standards for establishing and implementing ethnic studies in public high schools,begin delete to the Governor and the Legislature,end delete andbegin delete to makeend deletebegin insert
would requireend insert the reportbegin insert to be madeend insert 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 33544 is added to the Education Code,
2to read:
(a) The commission shall identify model programs,
4standards, and curricula relating to ethnic studies at the high school
5level. The commission shall also identify factors to train teachers
6to work effectively with diverse pupils and families and to
7encourage respect for diversity in the classroom.
8(b) The commission shall prepare a report that, at minimum,
9does all of the following:
10(1) Reviews the most current research on ethnic studies for
11
secondary education.
12(2) Reviews and evaluates existing standards, curricula,
13programs, and training regarding ethnic studies for secondary
14education.
15(3) Identifies the best practices and standards for establishing
16and implementing ethnic studies in public high schools.
17(4) Assesses the adequacy of current ethnic studies courses in
18California public high schools.
19(5) Makes recommendations for establishing a “California
20Cultures” multicultural or ethnic studies course that can be
21incorporated into existing high school curriculum.
22(c) The commission shall complete and submit the report
to the
23Governor and the Legislature on or before January 1,begin delete 2016.end deletebegin insert 2017.end insert
24 The report shall also be made available to the public on the
25department’s Internet Web site.
26(d) (1) The commissionbegin delete shallend deletebegin insert mayend insert consult with experts on ethnic
27studies, multiculturalism, or diversity including, but not limited
28to, all of the following:
29(A) Representatives from the department.
P3 1(B) Representatives from the University of California.
2(C) Representatives from the California State University.
3(D) Academic faculty, researchers, and scientists with
4backgrounds in ethnic studies, American studies, history, education,
5psychology, or medicine.
6(E) Representatives from community-based organizations
7concerned with pupil issues or civil rights.
8(F) Representatives from professional associations relating to
9ethnic studies.
10(G) Classroom teachers who are currently teaching in California
11public high schools.
12(H) Public
school board members with expertise in multicultural
13or ethnic studies.
14(2) In choosing experts with which to consult, the commission
15is encouraged to ensure that current classroom teachers in public
16high schools are principally and meaningfully consulted.
17(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (d), this act shall not
18apply to the University of California, except to the extent that the
19Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution,
20make this section applicable.
21(f) (1) The report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall
22be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
23Code.
24(2) Pursuant to
Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
25section is repealed on January 1, 2019.
26(g) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that
27funds are available to the commission for purposes of this section
28from any source, including, but not limited to, state funding, federal
29funding, and other nonstate funding sources.
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