BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 101
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Date of Hearing: April 15, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
101 (Alejo) - As Amended March 18, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
Yes
SUMMARY: This bill requires the development of a model
curriculum framework in ethnic studies, establishes an advisory
committee on ethnic studies, and requires that all school
districts serving students in grades 7-12 students offer ethnic
studies as an elective course.
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Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to
oversee the development of a model curriculum framework that
meets A-G requirements and ensure quality courses in
partnership with universities with ethnic studies programs.
Further, requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt
the model curriculum.
2)Requires the SPI to establish an Ethnic Studies Advisory
Committee comprising a majority of educators with experience
in teaching ethnic studies from high schools and institutions
of higher education. The Committee shall advise, assist, and
make recommendations to the SBE on programs, curriculum
content, and other issues related to ethnic studies.
3)Requires the SPI, by June 30, 2016, to submit a plan to the
SBE to implement the requirements of the bill and include
actions needed to overcome implementation challenges,
including timetables, staffing responsibilities, and budget
requirements.
4)Requires school districts enrolling students in grades 7-12,
in the school year following the adoption of the model
curriculum, to offer to its students as an elective course, a
course of study in ethnic studies based on the model
curriculum.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)General Fund administrative costs of in the range of $300,000
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to $500,000 for the California Department of Education (CDE)
to develop a model curriculum framework in ethnic studies.
Developing curriculum framework involves an extensive process
that would likely take two to three years to develop and would
necessitate contracting with subject matter experts.
2)Annual General Fund costs of approximately $300,000 to
establish and convene the Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee.
3)Unknown, annual Proposition 98/GF state mandated costs,
potentially in excess of $100 million, for school districts to
offer ethnic studies courses to all students in grades 7-12
once they are adopted by the SBE. There are approximately
2,500 schools that serve grades 7-12 that do not currently
provide ethnic studies courses. Significant costs are related
to teacher salary and benefits and instructional materials.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. Courses in ethnic studies typically explore the
issues of race, ethnicity, and culture, with the goal of
preparing all pupils to engage in the responsibilities of
citizenship in an increasingly multicultural global society.
Given California's diversity, the author stresses the
importance of student's knowledge of the various racial and
ethnic groups of our state.
2)Background. California curriculum is based on state-adopted
content standards. The curriculum frameworks are guidelines
for implementing the standards that are developed by the IQC
(also referenced in statute as the "commission") and approved
by the State Board of Education (SBE). In addition to
curriculum development, the Superintendent of Public
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Instruction can be directed by law to develop model curricula
on different topics, such as the life of Cesar Chavez, and
human rights and genocide.
The pending history-social science curriculum framework
encourages districts to offer ethnic studies courses.
Completion of this framework has been delayed over the years
due to budget and workload constraints but is now scheduled to
be completed by the Fall of 2016.
Mandated Costs. This bill requires school districts with
students in grades 7-12 to offer a course in ethnic studies
once one has been adopted by the SBE. Currently, many school
districts have made the local decision to offer ethnic studies
courses as an elective. Additionally, some districts,
including Los Angeles Unified School District, are exceeding
the requirements of this bill by not only offering ethnic
studies but making completion a graduation requirement. If
this bill were to become law, LEAs would likely seek
reimbursement from the state for activities they are currently
choosing to provide.
3)Prior legislation.
a) AB 1750 (Alejo) (2014) required the Instructional
Quality Commission to identify a model curriculum on ethnic
studies at the high school level. This bill was held in
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the Senate Appropriations Committee.
b) AB 2001 (Diaz) (2002) required the Curriculum
Development and Supplemental Materials Commission
(Commission) within the CDE to identify model programs,
standards, and curricula relating to ethnic studies at the
high school level. This bill was vetoed by Governor Gray
Davis.
Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081