California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1912


Introduced by Assembly Member Holden

February 19, 2014


An act to add Section 33543 to the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1912, as introduced, Holden. Pupil instruction: history-social science framework: election of President Barack Obama.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to recommend curriculum frameworks to the State Board of Education. Existing law defines “curriculum framework” as an outline of the components of a given course of study designed to provide state direction to school districts in the provision of instructional programs.

This bill would require the commission and the state board to consider including, in the history-social science curriculum framework adopted in the course of the next submission cycle following January 1, 2015, instruction on the election of President Barack Obama and the significance of the United States electing its first African American President, as appropriate.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P1    1

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:

P2    1(a) The election of Barack Hussein Obama to the office of
2President of the United States was a historic step in the effort
3towards equality in the United States.

4(b) Before the Civil Rights Movement, intimidation and physical
5violence prevented millions of African Americans from voting
6and alienated them from the electoral process.

7(c) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a civil rights victory
8that inspired more ethnic minorities to register to vote and pursue
9elected office.

10(d) Barack Obama attended Harvard Law School where he
11became the first African American president of the Harvard Law
12Review.

13(e) After law school, Barack Obama worked to fulfill the spirit
14of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by encouraging people to register
15to vote.

16(f) Barack Obama was first elected to the Illinois State Senate
17in 1996 and to the United States Senate in 2004.

18(g) Senator Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of
19the United States and first African American President on
20November 4, 2008, and was sworn in on January 20, 2009.

21(h) In honor of this milestone in civil rights, President Obama
22was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

23(i) President Obama was reelected on November 6, 2012, and
24 was sworn in for his second term on January 20, 2013.

25

SEC. 2.  

Section 33543 is added to the Education Code, to read:

26

33543.  

The commission and the state board shall consider
27including, in the history-social science curriculum framework
28adopted in the course of the next submission cycle following
29January 1, 2015, instruction on the election of President Barack
30Obama and the significance of the United States electing its first
31African American President, as appropriate.



O

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