BILL ANALYSIS
ACR 89
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ACR 89 (Galgiani and Portantino)
As Amended September 4, 2009
Majority vote
EDUCATION 10-0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Brownley, Nestande, | | |
| |Ammiano, Arambula, | | |
| |Carter, Eng, Garrick, | | |
| |Miller, Solorio, | | |
| |Torlakson | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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
ACR 89
Page 2
indicated grade levels.
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
ACR 89
Page 3
Andrea Sbarboro who is credited as one of the major founders of
the California wine industry. The resolution further highlights
Italian Americans in the movie industry, such as Danny DeVito,
John Travolta, Vito Russo, Isabella Rosellini and Liza Minelli
among others.
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.
ACR 89
Page 4
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0002935