BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 520
AUTHOR: Pavley
AMENDED: April 30, 2009
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: May 6, 2009
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : High School Curriculum: volunteer service.
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes a school district to offer one credit
for each 12 hours of volunteer service provided by a high
school pupil.
BACKGROUND
A one-semester high school course is typically worth five
credits.
Current law does not establish a minimum number of credits
needed in order to graduate from high school, but does
require the completion of all of the following courses:
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
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foreign language.
f) Two courses in physical education, unless
the pupil has been exempted.
2) Other coursework as the governing board of the school
district may by rule specify.
The Oxnard Union High School District has apparently
recently adopted a pilot Community Service course,
authorizing credit to be awarded to pupils who complete
volunteer service in a manner that is very similar to what
is proposed by this bill.
The Sacramento City Unified School District requires a
pupil to accumulate a total of 225 credits in order to
graduate (with a specified number of credits in certain
courses), including the completion of a service learning
project or senior project.
The San Juan Unified School District requires a pupil to
accumulate a total of 220 credits (280 credits for schools
on a block schedule) and demonstrate computer literacy by
passing designated classes, and satisfy additional
requirements, such as a senior project, that may be
required. The required courses and units for graduation
differ at various high schools within this district. For
example, Mesa Verde High School requires completion of a
computer applications course, and Casa Roble Fundamental
High School requires completion of a senior project.
The San Diego Unified School District requires a total of
220 credits for graduation, including the presentation of a
senior exhibition.
ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes the governing board of a school
district to elect to offer one credit towards the required
number of credits necessary for graduation from high school
for each 12 hours of volunteer service provided by a pupil.
Specifically, this bill:
1) Caps the amount of credits that may be awarded to five
credits per pupil per semester, for a maximum of two
semesters (total of 10 credits).
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2) Requires a school district that offers credit for
volunteer service to establish and maintain a list of
suitable volunteer organizations from which a pupil
may choose an organization whereto complete the
volunteer hours.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Permissive Education Code . This bill authorizes an
action that can already be undertaken under existing
law. As mentioned in the Background section of this
analysis, many school districts require coursework
that is in addition to state graduation requirements.
Given this, the Committee may wish to consider whether
the bill is necessary.
2) One approach . This bill establishes one approach that
schools may take to offer credit for volunteer
service. However, it is not the intent of the author
to preclude school districts from offering credit for
volunteer service
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through a process that differs from the approach set
forth in this bill. Is it clear that this bill
establishes one approach but allows districts to
choose another method to award credit for volunteer
service?
3) Political or advocacy organizations ? It is the
author's desire to amend this bill to prohibit the
volunteer service from being of a political or
advocacy nature. Should pupils be precluded from
earning credit for volunteering for political or
advocacy organizations?
4) During school hours ? It is the author's desire to
amend this bill to prohibit volunteer service from
being performed during the hours that the pupil is
required to be in attendance at school.
5) Report . It is the author's desire to amend this bill
to authorize a school district to require, as a
condition of receiving credit for volunteer service,
pupils to submit a report about the volunteer
experience.
6) Choice of organizations . This bill specifies that a
pupil may choose to volunteer with an organization
that is included in the list established and
maintained by each school district that elects to
offer credit for volunteer service. While it is not
the author's intent to require each pupil to
volunteer, it is the intent that pupils volunteer only
with organizations on the district's list. Staff
recommends an amendment to limit a pupil's choice of
organizations to those included in the list kept by
that pupil's school district?
7) Verification . Staff recommends an amendment to
require any organization for which a pupil volunteers
and seeks credit for that service, to verify to the
school district the hours served by the pupil.
8) Clarification . It is the author's desire to amend
this bill to clarify that a pupil may earn up to 10
credits over the course of all years spent in high
school, rather than implying that all volunteer hours
must be served within one year.
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9) Related legislation . AB 156 (Jeffries of 2009),
authorizes a school district to offer one credit
towards the required number of credits necessary for
graduation from high school for training and
certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation or the
use of an automatic external defibrillator, or both.
AB 156 is pending in the Assembly Education Committee.
SUPPORT
California Coalition for Youth
Oxnard Union High School District
OPPOSITION
California Teachers Association