Amended in Assembly August 19, 2014

Amended in Assembly July 2, 2014

Amended in Senate April 3, 2014

Amended in Senate February 20, 2014

Senate Bill No. 897

Introduced by Senator Steinberg

January 13, 2014

An act to amend Sections 33540 and 84830 of the Education Code, relating to educational programs.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 897, as amended, Steinberg. Educational programs: history-social science framework: adult education: civics instruction.

(1) Existing law requires the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education to request that the Instructional Quality Commission review and revise, as necessary, the course requirements in the history-social science framework, as specified. Existing law requires the commission, when revising the history-social science framework and as appropriate and based on the subject matter of the course, to ensure that certain historical documents are incorporated into the framework, consider incorporating additional specified historical documents into the framework, and encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the governments of California and the United States of America.

This bill would also require the commission, whenever it revises the history-social science framework and as appropriate and based on the subject matter of the course, to, among other things, receive input from civics learning experts for purposes of integrating civics learning content, concepts, and skills, at all appropriate grade levels, with certain standards, begin insert and end insert ensure that voter education information is included in the American government and civics curriculum at the high school level, as begin delete specified, and end delete begin insert specified. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of the history-social science framework that is revised any time after July 1, 2015, that the commission end insert consider whether and how to incorporate a specified social studies framework into begin delete the history-social science end delete begin insert that end insert framework. The bill would require the state board to consider incorporating a specified social studies framework into the history-social science content standards when those content standards are next revised after January 1, 2015.

(2) Existing law, pursuant to funding made available in the annual Budget Act, requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education to jointly provide 2-year planning and implementation grants to regional consortia of community college districts and school districts for purposes of developing regional plans to better serve the educational needs of adults. Existing law requires the grant funds to be used by each regional consortium to create and implement a plan to better provide adults in the region with certain classes and programs, including, among other things, elementary and secondary basic skills, including classes required for a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate begin insert , end insert and classes and courses for immigrants eligible for educational services in citizenship and English as a 2nd language, and workforce preparation classes in basic skills.

This bill would require the classes and courses related to elementary and secondary basic skills and the classes and courses for immigrants, as described above, to distribute basic information on American government and civics that includes, but is not limited to, instruction on (A) federal, state, and local government, (B) the 3 branches of government, (C) the importance of civic engagement, and (D) registering to vote. begin delete The bill would apply these requirements to any funding provided for the 2-year planning and implementation grants in the 2015-16 fiscal year, or any other statute providing this funding that takes effect on or after January 1, 2015. end delete

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 33540 of the Education Code is amended
to read:

33540.  

(a) The state board and the department shall request
that the commission review and revise, as necessary, the course
requirements in the history-social science framework developed
by the History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Criteria
Committee of the state board to ensure that minimum standards
for courses in American government and civics include sufficient
attention to teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner,
with state and local governmental agencies and representatives to
solve problems and to petition for changes in laws and procedures,
and that the course requirements in the history-social science
framework are also included in all history and social science
courses and all grade levels, as appropriate.

(b) Whenever the history-social science framework is revised
as required by law, the commission shall do, as appropriate and
based on the subject matter of the course, all of the following:

(1) Receive input from civics learning experts, including civics
education program providers, associations of civics educators, and
organizations dedicated to research on civics learning, for purposes
of integrating civics learning content, concepts, and skills, at all
appropriate grade levels, with the standards established by the state
board in core curriculum areas, as specified in Section 60605, as
that section read on June 30, 2011, and Section 60605.8.

(2) Consider how civics and history instruction, at all appropriate
grade levels, includes, in addition to the acquisition of content
knowledge, applying that content to develop the competence and
skills needed for civic engagement.

(3) Ensure that voter education information is included in the
American government and civics curriculum at the high school
level, including, but not limited to, information on the importance
of registering to vote in local, state, and federal elections, how to
register to vote, both online and by mail, what the requirements
are to register to vote, how to request an absentee ballot, how to
fill out and return an absentee ballot, what to expect on election
day, how to find a polling place, and where and how to access and
understand the voter information pamphlet and other materials to
become an informed voter.

(4) Ensure the following historical documents are incorporated
into the framework:

(A) The Declaration of Independence.

(B) The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

(C) The Federalist Papers.

(D) The Emancipation Proclamation.

(E) The Gettysburg Address.

(F) George Washington’s Farewell Address.

(5) Consider incorporating the following historical documents
into the framework:

(A) The Magna Carta.

(B) The Articles of Confederation.

(C) The California Constitution.

(6) Encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of
the governments of California and the United States of America,
including, but not limited to, the development of democracy and
the history of the development of the United States Constitution.

begin delete

(7) Consider whether and how to incorporate the College,
Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State
Standards into the history-social science framework.

end delete begin insert

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of the
history-social science framework that is revised any time after
July 1, 2015, that the commission consider whether and how to
incorporate the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework
for Social Studies State Standards into that framework.

end insert begin delete

(c)

end delete

begin insert (d) end insert  It is the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of the
history-social science framework that is revised after January 1,
2015, that the requirements imposed pursuant to paragraphs (1) to
(3), inclusive, of subdivision (b) may be satisfied under the
framework adoption procedures being used by the department as
of January 1, 2015.

begin delete

(d)

end delete

begin insert (e) end insert   When the history-social science content standards are next
revised after January 1, 2015, the state board shall consider
incorporating the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework
for Social Studies State Standards into the history-social science
content standards.

SEC. 2.  

Section 84830 of the Education Code is amended to
read:

84830.  

(a) The Chancellor of the California Community
Colleges and the State Department of Education shall, pursuant to
funding made available in the annual Budget Act, jointly provide
two-year planning and implementation grants to regional consortia
of community college districts and school districts for the purpose
of developing regional plans to better serve the educational needs
of adults.

(1) Eligibility shall be limited to consortia consisting of at least
one community college district and at least one school district
within the boundaries of the community college district, either of
which may serve as the consortium’s fiscal agent, as determined
by the applicant consortium.

(2) If a community college district chooses not to participate in
a consortium, a neighboring community college district may form
a consortium with school districts within the boundaries of the
nonparticipating community college district.

(3) Consortia may include other entities providing adult
education courses, including, but not necessarily limited to,
correctional facilities, other local public entities, and
community-based organizations.

(b) Grant funds provided pursuant to this section shall be used
by each regional consortium to create and implement a plan to
better provide adults in its region with all of the following:

(1) Elementary and secondary basic skills, including classes
required for a high school diploma or high school equivalency
certificate.

(2) Classes and courses for immigrants eligible for educational
services in citizenship and English as a second language, and
workforce preparation classes in basic skills.

(3) Education programs for adults with disabilities.

(4) Short-term career technical education programs with high
employment potential.

(5) Programs for apprentices.

(c) (1) The classes and courses described in paragraphs (1) and
(2) of subdivision (b) shall distribute basic information on
American government and civics that includes, but is not limited
to, instruction on all of the following:

(A) Federal, state, and local government.

(B) The three branches of government.

(C) The importance of civic engagement.

(D) Registering to vote.

begin delete

(2) The requirements of paragraph (1) shall apply to any funding
for regional consortia provided in the 2015-16 fiscal year, annual
Budget Acts enacted after the 2015-16 fiscal year, or other
legislation that takes effect on or after January 1, 2015.

end delete begin delete

(3)

end delete

begin insert (2) end insert  It is the intent of the Legislature that, consistent with the
requirements of Sections 51225.3 and 52555, students enrolled in
classes and courses described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subdivision (b) in which instruction in American government and
civics is appropriate shall receive instruction in American
government and civics.

(d) Each regional consortium’s plan shall include, at a minimum:

(1) An evaluation of current levels and types of adult education
programs within its region, including education for adults in
correctional facilities; credit, noncredit, and enhanced noncredit
adult education coursework; and programs funded through Title
II of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, known as the
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (Public Law 105-220).

(2) An evaluation of current needs for adult education programs
within its region.

(3) Plans for parties that make up the consortium to integrate
their existing programs and create seamless transitions into
postsecondary education or the workforce.

(4) Plans to address the gaps identified pursuant to paragraphs
(1) and (2).

(5) Plans to employ approaches proven to accelerate a student’s
progress toward his or her academic or career goals, such as
contextualized basic skills and career technical education, and
other joint programming strategies between adult education and
career technical education.

(6) Plans to collaborate in the provision of ongoing professional
development opportunities for faculty and other staff to help them
achieve greater program integration and improve student outcomes.

(7) Plans to leverage existing regional structures, including, but
not necessarily limited to, local workforce investment areas.

(e) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and
the State Department of Education may identify additional elements
that consortia must include in a plan.

(f) (1) On or before March 1, 2014, the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges and the State Department of
Education shall submit a joint report to the Legislature and the
Governor. This report shall include, but not necessarily be limited
to, both of the following:

(A) The status of developing regional consortia across the state,
including identification of unserved geographic areas or emerging
gaps in regional program delivery.

(B) The status and allocation of grant awards made to regional
consortia.

(2) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature as provided
in Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(g) (1) On or before March 1, 2015, the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges and the State Department of
Education shall submit a joint report to the Legislature and the
Governor. This report shall include, but is not limited to, both of
the following:

(A) The plans developed by begin delete the end delete regional consortia across the
state.

(B) Recommendations for additional improvements in the
delivery system serving adult learners.

(2) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature as provided
in Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature to work toward developing
common policies related to adult education affecting adult schools
at local educational agencies and community colleges, including
policies on fees and funding levels.

(i) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide additional funding
in the 2015-16 fiscal year to regional consortia to expand and
improve the provision of adult education.