BILL NUMBER: AB 1764	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Olsen and Buchanan

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2014

   An act to amend Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, relating to
school curriculum.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1764, as introduced, Olsen. School curriculum: mathematics:
computer science.
   Existing law requires each pupil completing grade 12 to satisfy
certain requirements as a condition of receiving a diploma of
graduation from high school. These requirements include the
successful passage of the high school exit examination and the
completion of designated coursework in grades 9 to 12, inclusive. The
coursework requirements include the completion of 2 courses in
mathematics. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school
district to adopt additional coursework requirements.
   This bill would authorize the governing board of a school district
that requires more than 2 courses in mathematics to award a pupil up
to one mathematics course credit for successfully completing an
approved computer science course, as provided. The bill would
prohibit the governing board of the school district from awarding the
pupil mathematics course credit for an approved computer science
course if the governing board of the school district also awards the
pupil credit for that course in other specified subjects.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, as amended by
Section 2 of Chapter 324 of the Statutes of 2013, is amended to read:

   51225.3.  (a) A pupil shall complete all of the following while in
grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of
graduation from high school:
   (1) At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects
specified, each course having a duration of one year, unless
otherwise specified:
   (A) Three courses in English.
   (B)  (i)    Two courses in mathematics.  If
the governing board of a school district requires more than two
courses in mathematics for graduation, the governing board of the
school district may award a pupil up to one mathematics course credit
for successfully completing a "category C" approved computer science
course. The governing board of the school district shall not award a
pupil mathematics course credit for a "category C" approved computer
science course if the governing board of the school district also
awards the pupil credit for that course under subparagraph (C) or
(E).  
   (ii) For purposes of this paragraph, "category C" refers to the
"A-G" admission requirements for the California State University and
the University of California. 
   (C) Two courses in science, including biological and physical
sciences.
   (D) Three courses in social studies, including United States
history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a
one-semester course in American government and civics; and a
one-semester course in economics.
   (E) One course in visual or performing arts, foreign language, or,
commencing with the 2012-13 school year, career technical education.

   (i) For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this
subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a
course in foreign language.
   (ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, "a course in career
technical education" means a course in a district-operated career
technical education program that is aligned to the career technical
model curriculum standards and framework adopted by the state board,
including courses through a regional occupational center or program
operated by a county superintendent of schools or pursuant to a joint
powers agreement.
   (iii) This subparagraph does not require a school or school
district that currently does not offer career technical education
courses to start new career technical education programs for purposes
of this section.
   (iv) If a school district or county office of education elects to
allow a career technical education course to satisfy the requirement
imposed by this subparagraph, the governing board of the school
district or county office of education, before offering that
alternative to pupils, shall notify parents, teachers, pupils, and
the public at a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board of
all of the following:
   (I) The intent to offer career technical education courses to
fulfill the graduation requirement specified in this subparagraph.
   (II) The impact that offering career technical education courses,
pursuant to this subparagraph, will have on the availability of
courses that meet the eligibility requirements for admission to the
California State University and the University of California, and
whether the career technical education courses to be offered pursuant
to this subparagraph are approved to satisfy those eligibility
requirements. If a school district elects to allow a career technical
education course to satisfy the requirement imposed by this
subparagraph, the school district shall comply with subdivision (m)
of Section 48980.
   (III) The distinction, if any, between the high school graduation
requirements of the school district or county office of education,
and the eligibility requirements for admission to the California
State University and the University of California.
   (F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been
exempted pursuant to the provisions of this code.
   (2) Other coursework requirements adopted by the governing board
of the school district.
   (b) The governing board, with the active involvement of parents,
administrators, teachers, and pupils, shall adopt alternative means
for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study that may
include practical demonstration of skills and competencies,
supervised work experience or other outside school experience, career
technical education classes offered in high schools, courses offered
by regional occupational centers or programs, interdisciplinary
study, independent study, and credit earned at a postsecondary
educational institution. Requirements for graduation and specified
alternative modes for completing the prescribed course of study shall
be made available to pupils, parents, and the public.
   (c) On or before July 1, 2017, the department shall submit a
comprehensive report to the appropriate policy committees of the
Legislature on the addition of career technical education courses to
satisfy the requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph
(1) of subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, the following
information:
   (1) A comparison of the pupil enrollment in career technical
education courses, foreign language courses, and visual and
performing arts courses for the 2005-06 to 2011-12 school years,
inclusive, to the pupil enrollment in career technical education
courses, foreign language courses, and visual and performing arts
courses for the 2012-13 to 2016-17 school years, inclusive.
   (2) The reasons, reported by school districts, that pupils give
for choosing to enroll in a career technical education course to
satisfy the requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph
(1) of subdivision (a).
   (3) The type and number of career technical education courses that
were conducted for the 2005-06 to 2011-12 school years, inclusive,
compared to the type and number of career technical education courses
that were conducted for the 2012-13 to 2016-17 school years,
inclusive.
   (4) The number of career technical education courses that
satisfied the subject matter requirements for admission to the
University of California or the California State University.
   (5) The extent to which the career technical education courses
chosen by pupils are aligned with the California Career Technical
Education Standards, and prepare pupils for employment, advanced
training, and postsecondary education.
   (6) The number of career technical education courses that also
satisfy the visual and performing arts requirement, and the number of
career technical education courses that also satisfy the foreign
language requirement.
   (7) Annual pupil dropout and graduation rates for the 2011-12 to
2014-15 school years, inclusive.
   (d) For purposes of completing the report described in subdivision
(c), the Superintendent may use existing state resources and federal
funds. If state or federal funds are not available or sufficient,
the Superintendent may apply for and accept grants, and receive
donations and other financial support from public or private sources
for purposes of this section.
   (e) For purposes of completing the report described in subdivision
(c), the Superintendent may accept support, including, but not
limited to, financial and technical support, from high school reform
advocates, teachers, chamber organizations, industry representatives,
research centers, parents, and pupils.
   (f) This section shall become inoperative on the earlier of the
following two dates:
   (1) On July 1, immediately following the first fiscal year after
the enactment of the act that adds this paragraph in which the number
of career technical education courses that, as determined by the
department, satisfy the foreign language requirement for admission to
the California State University and the University of California is
at least twice the number of career technical education courses that
meet these admission requirements as of January 1, 2012. This section
shall be repealed on the following January 1, unless a later enacted
statute, that becomes operative on or before that date, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. It
is the intent of the Legislature that new career technical education
courses that satisfy the foreign language requirement for admission
to the California State University and the University of California
focus on world languages aligned with career preparation, emphasizing
real-world application and technical content in related career and
technical education courses.
   (2) On July 1, 2017, and, as of January 1, 2018, is repealed,
unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before
January 1, 2018, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes
inoperative and is repealed.
  SEC. 2.  Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, as amended by
Section 3 of Chapter 324 of the Statutes of 2013, is amended to read:

   51225.3.  (a) A pupil shall complete all of the following while in
grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of
graduation from high school:
   (1) At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects
specified, each course having a duration of one year, unless
otherwise specified:
   (A) Three courses in English.
   (B)  (i)    Two courses in mathematics.  If
the governing board of a school district requires more than two
courses   in mathematics for graduation, the governing board
of the school district may award a pupil up to one mathematics
course credit for successfully completing a "category C" approved
computer science course. The governing board of the school district
shall not award a pupil mathematics course credit for a "category C"
approved computer science course if the governing board of the school
district also awards the pupil credit for that course under
subparagraph (C) or (E).  
   (ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, "category C" refers to the
"A-G" admission requirements for the California State University and
the University of California. 
   (C) Two courses in science, including biological and physical
sciences.
   (D) Three courses in social studies, including United States
history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a
one-semester course in American government and civics; and a
one-semester course in economics.
   (E) One course in visual or performing arts or foreign language.
For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this
subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a
course in foreign language.
   (F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been
exempted pursuant to the provisions of this code.
   (2) Other coursework requirements adopted by the governing board
of the school district.
   (b) The governing board, with the active involvement of parents,
administrators, teachers, and pupils, shall adopt alternative means
for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study that may
include practical demonstration of skills and competencies,
supervised work experience or other outside school experience, career
technical education classes offered in high schools, courses offered
by regional occupational centers or programs, interdisciplinary
study, independent study, and credit earned at a postsecondary
educational institution. Requirements for graduation and specified
alternative modes for completing the prescribed course of study shall
be made available to pupils, parents, and the public.
   (c) If a pupil completed a career technical education course that
met the requirements of subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of
subdivision (a) of Section 51225.3, as amended by the act adding this
section, before the inoperative date of that section, that course
shall be deemed to fulfill the requirements of subparagraph (E) of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of this section.
   (d) This section shall become operative upon the date that Section
51225.3, as amended by the act adding this section, becomes
inoperative.