BILL ANALYSIS
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ACR 89 (Galgiani and Portantino)
As Amended August 31, 2009
Majority vote
EDUCATION 10-0
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|Ayes:|Brownley, Nestande, | | |
| |Ammiano, Arambula, | | |
| |Carter, Eng, Garrick, | | |
| |Miller, Solorio, | | |
| |Torlakson | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Designates the month of October 2009 and every October
thereafter as Italian American Heritage Month and encourages public
schools to highlight and include Italian American achievements and
contributions to the culture of California and to take steps to
promote the inclusion of the role and contributions of Italian
Americans to the culture and history of California and the United
States (U.S.) in elementary and secondary social science textbooks
during the revision process for those textbooks. Specifically, this
bill makes several findings and declarations regarding Italian
Americans and their contributions to California and U.S. history.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Provides that the adopted course of study in grades one through 12
for instruction in social sciences shall include the early history
of California and a study of the role and contributions of both
men and women, black Americans, American Indians, Mexicans,
Asians, Pacific Island people, and other ethnic groups to the
economic, political, and social development of California and the
U.S., with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these
groups in contemporary society.
2)Requires the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials
Commission to recommend curriculum frameworks to the State Board
of Education (SBE) and develop criteria for evaluating
instructional materials submitted for adoption so that the
materials adopted adequately cover the subjects in the indicated
grade levels.
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3)Prohibits the SBE from adopting instructional materials or conduct
other procedures associated with the adoption of textbooks until
the 2013-2014 school year and specifies that local education
agencies are not required to purchase instructional materials
through fiscal year 2012-13.
FISCAL EFFECT : This resolution is non-fiscal.
COMMENTS : This resolution designates the month of October 2009 and
every October thereafter, as Italian American Heritage Month and it
encourages public schools to highlight and include the contributions
and achievements of Italian Americans to the culture of California
and to take steps promote the inclusion of the role and
contributions of Italian Americans to the culture and history of
California and the U.S. in the elementary and secondary social
science textbooks during the revision process for those textbooks.
The History-Social Science Content Standards require inclusion of
ethnic groups, including Italians and Italian Americans, in the
discussion of historical events throughout all grade levels. For
example, the 11th grade standards on the topic of America's
participation in World War II state:
Discuss the constitutional issues and impact of events
on the U.S. home front, including the internment of
Japanese Americans (e.g., Fred Korematsu v. United
States of America) and the restrictions on German and
Italian resident aliens; the response of the
administration to Hitler's atrocities against Jews and
other groups; the roles of women in military
production; and the roles and growing political demand
of African Americans.
Current law provides a certain level of flexibility in the social
science curriculum by allowing instruction related to "other ethnic
groups," not specifically mentioned in statute, to be included in
the social science curriculum.
The resolution highlights examples of Italian American achievements
and contributions such as that of Bay Area native Amedeo Pietro
"A.P." Giannini, who established the first branch banking system in
the U.S. known as Bank of America, and of Andrea Sbarboro who is
credited as one of the major founders of the California wine
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industry.
Prior legislation: ACR 145 (Portantino), Resolution Chapter 125,
Statutes of 2008, designated the month of October as Italian
American Heritage Month and encouraged public schools to highlight
Italian American achievements and contributions to the culture of
California and to take steps to promote the inclusion of the
achievements and contributions of Italian Americans to U.S. and
California history in elementary and secondary textbooks during the
revision process for those textbooks.
AB 1863 (Portantino) of 2008 expresses the encouragement of the
Legislature for schools to include the role and contribution of
Italian Americans to the economic, political, and social development
of California and the U.S. in the instruction of social sciences,
and encouraged the SBE to include the role and contribution of
Italian Americans to the economic, political, and social development
of California and the U.S. in the social sciences curriculum
frameworks at the next revision of those frameworks. AB 1863 was
vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger with the following veto message:
"While I respect the author's intent to recognize the role of
Italian Americans in California and United State history, I have
consistently vetoed legislation that has attempted to include
specific details or events into areas of instruction. The State
Board of Education adopted content standards are developed by a
diverse group of experts and are intentionally broad in order to
allow coverage of various events, developments, and issues. I
continue to believe that the State should establish rigorous
academic standards and frameworks, but refrain from being overly
prescriptive in specific school curriculum."
AB 390 (Canciamilla) of 2005 provided that the SBE, at the next
revision of curriculum frameworks in social sciences shall include
the role and contribution of Italian Americans to the economic,
political, and social development of California and the U.S. AB 390
was sent to the Governor's desk in 2006 but was returned to the
Assembly prior to action taken by the Governor and was held on the
Assembly Floor.
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087
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FN: 0002763