BILL NUMBER: AB 554 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Furutani
FEBRUARY 25, 2009
An act to amend Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, relating to
graduation requirements.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 554, as amended, Furutani. Graduation requirements.
Existing law prohibits a pupil from receiving a diploma of
graduation from high school unless he or she completes specified
requirements, including, but not limited to, completing one course in
visual or performing arts or foreign language and 2 courses
in physical education, except as specified .
This bill would authorize a pupil, with the consent of his or her
parent or guardian and with the concurrence of the governing board,
to replace each of these courses with a career technical course. The
bill would specify that, for purposes of graduation requirements, any
career technical course completed pursuant to these provisions would
serve as a legitimate substitute for the replaced course.
This bill would require that a pupil take at least 2 courses from
the subject areas of visual or performing arts, foreign language, or
career technical education, as defined, rather than on course in
visual or performing arts or foreign language. The bill would require
schools, to the extent practicable, to offer courses within their
existing school calendars. Because the bill would require schools to
provide a higher level of service, it would impose a state-mandated
local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no
yes .
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares
all of the following:
(1) The foundational principle of the Education Code is that all
pupils should have access to equitable educational opportunities and
resources.
(2) The future of the state is dependent upon minimizing, if not
entirely eliminating, the inequities in our public schools so that
all pupils will have more equitable opportunities to learn skills
needed for entry into the workforce, to pursue postsecondary
educational goals, and to contribute to the social cohesion of the
state.
(3) Current law specifies the courses a pupil must take in order
to graduate from high school. However, too many pupils are dropping
out of high school or graduating without the necessary foundation to
succeed in the workplace or in postsecondary education.
(b) It is therefore, the intent of the Legislature that by
specifying the types of coursework that pupils must complete in order
to graduate, pupils will have world class skills and the workforce
of the state will be competitive in the global economy.
(c) It is also the intent of the Legislature that pupils be
prepared to meet the academic and technical skills challenges of the
high school curriculum and that they take advantage of the range of
course options available to them.
(d) It is further the intent of the Legislature that in order to
increase the rigor of the coursework and to ensure that pupils are
prepared to meet the demands of the 21st century, the courses
required for high school graduation be aligned with standards and
frameworks that are adopted by the State Board of Education.
SECTION 1. SEC. 2. Section 51225.3
of the Education Code is amended to read:
51225.3. (a) Commencing with the 1988-89 school year, no pupil
shall receive a diploma of graduation from high school who, while in
grades 9 to 12, inclusive, has not completed all of the following:
(1) At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects
specified, each course having a duration of one year, unless
otherwise specified.
(A) Three courses in English.
(B) Two courses in mathematics.
(C) Two courses in science, including biological and physical
sciences.
(D) Three courses in social studies, including United States
history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a
one-semester course in American government and civics, and a
one-semester course in economics.
(E) One course in visual or performing arts or foreign language.
For the purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this
subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a
course in foreign language.
(E) Two courses from any of the following three subject areas:
(i) Visual or performing arts.
(ii) Foreign Language. For the purposes of satisfying the
requirement specified in this subparagraph, a course in American Sign
Language shall be deemed a course in foreign language.
(iii) Career technical education.
(F) For the purposes of satisfying the requirements of
subparagraph (E), the following shall apply:
(i) Schools, to the extent practicable, shall offer courses within
their existing school calendars.
(ii) "Career technical education course" means a course in a
district-operated career technical education program that is aligned
to the career technical education model curriculum standards and
framework adopted by the state board.
(F)
(G) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil
has been exempted pursuant to the provisions of this code.
(2) Other coursework as the governing board of the school district
may by rule specify.
(b) The governing board, with the active involvement of parents,
administrators, teachers, and pupils, shall adopt alternative means
for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study which may
include practical demonstration of skills and competencies,
supervised work experience or other outside school experience, career
technical education classes offered in high schools, courses offered
by regional occupational centers or programs, interdisciplinary
study, independent study, and credit earned at a postsecondary
institution. Requirements for graduation and specified alternative
modes for completing the prescribed course of study shall be made
available to pupils, parents, and the public.
(c) A pupil, with the consent of his or her parent or guardian and
with the concurrence of the governing board, may substitute a career
technical course for each of the following courses:
(1) One course in visual or performing arts or foreign language,
pursuant to paragraph (E).
(2) Two courses in physical education, pursuant to paragraph (F).
(d) Each career technical course that a pupil completes pursuant
to subdivision (c) shall serve as a legitimate substitute for the
course that it replaced for purposes of graduation requirements.
SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.