BILL NUMBER: SB 520	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 2, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 3, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 12, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 30, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Pavley
   (Coauthors: Senators Alquist and Romero)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, relating to
high school curriculum.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 520, as amended, Pavley. High school curriculum: community
service.
   Existing law sets forth the courses a pupil is required to
complete while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to graduate
from high school and authorizes the governing board of a school
district to specify by rule other required coursework.
   This bill would authorize the governing board of a school district
to offer  one credit towards the required number of credits
required for graduation from high school for each 12  
credit, as specified, for  hours of community service provided
outside of regular school hours by a pupil,  up to a maximum
of 5 credits per pupil per semester, and  for a maximum of 2
semesters. The bill would require a school district that elects to
offer credit for community service to establish and maintain a list
of suitable community service organizations from which a pupil would
be required to choose to complete the community service hours. The
bill also would require a school district to require the pupil to
submit a report  or other academic assignments, as determined by
the district,  on the community service experience and 
would require  the community service organization to verify the
hours served by the pupil.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 51225.3 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   51225.3.  (a) 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.
   (F) 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) The governing board of a school district may elect to offer
 one credit towards the required number of credits necessary
for graduation from high school for each 12 hours of  
credit in an amount that is equivalent to that of a one-semester
  elective co   urse in that district for hours of
 community service provided outside of regular school hours by a
 pupil, up to a maximum of five credits per pupil per
semester, and   pupil in an amount that may be equal to
or greater than 60 hours per semester, as determined by the district,
 for a maximum of any two semesters that the pupil attends high
school. A school district that elects to offer credit for community
service shall establish and maintain a list of suitable community
service organizations, excluding  political and advocacy
organizations   organizations whose sole purpose is
political advocacy  , from which a pupil shall choose to
complete the community service hours, shall require a pupil to submit
a report  or other academic assignments, as determined by the
district,  to a school representative on the community service
experience, and shall require the community service organization to
verify the hours served by the pupil.