BILL ANALYSIS
SB 520
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 520 (Pavley)
As Amended July 2, 2009
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :24-13
EDUCATION 7-3
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|Ayes:|Brownley, Ammiano, | | |
| |Arambula, Buchanan, | | |
| |Carter, Eng, Torlakson | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Nestande, Garrick, Miller | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes a school district to offer credit in an
amount that is equivalent to that of a one-semester elective
course in that district for hours of community service provided
outside of regular school hours by a pupil, as specified.
Specifically, this bill requires a school district that elects
to offer credit for community service to:
1)Offer credit for community service provided by a 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.
2)Establish and maintain a list of suitable volunteer
organizations, excluding organizations whose sole purpose is
political, from which a pupil may choose to complete the
community service hours.
3)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
requires the community service organization to verify the
hours served by the pupil.
EXISTING LAW :
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1)Establishes the following minimum high school graduation
requirements for pupils in grades 9-12, inclusive:
a) Three years of English;
b) Two years of math;
c) Two years of science;
d) Three years of social studies, including 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;
f) Two courses in physical education; and,
g) Other coursework that the governing board of the school
district may specify.
2)Specifies that governing boards, 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, CTE classes, courses offered by regional
occupational centers or programs (ROC/Ps), interdisciplinary
study, independent study, and credit earned at a postsecondary
institution.
3)Requires, commencing with the 2003-04 school year and each
year thereafter, at least one course, or a combination of the
two courses, in mathematics required to be completed by pupils
while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, prior to receiving a
diploma of graduation from high school, meet or exceed the
rigor of the content standards for Algebra I, as adopted by
the SBE.
4)Requires passage of a high school exit examination for a pupil
to receive a high school diploma.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
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COMMENTS : This bill allows districts to award credit towards
high school graduation for hours of community service completed
by a pupil, up to a maximum of the equivalent of two semesters.
The Education Code expressly grants broad legislative power to
school districts to take actions and implement programs as long
as those actions and programs are not in conflict with the
purposes for which the state's schools are established or with
specific prohibitions in code. Nothing in the Education Code
currently prohibits a school district from awarding pupils
credit for community service. In fact, some school districts
already require a specified number of community service hours
for high school graduation or have programs in place to
emphasize community service. This bill authorizes one approach
by which school districts may choose to offer credit for
community service. While this bill is permissive, it is not
clear whether districts that choose to award credit for
community service hours would be able to adopt different
approaches than the one established by this bill.
Each district sets its own graduation requirements in addition
to the graduation requirements established in statute, and each
district has its own way of ensuring pupils satisfy those
requirements. School districts typically award credits for
courses but the number of credits assigned for each course
varies by district and in some cases, districts may not
necessarily use a credit system. 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. Within the San Juan Unified School District, Mesa
Verde High School requires completion of a computer applications
course, and Casa Roble Fundamental High School requires
completion of a senior project.
CalServe Initiative: The California Department of Education's
(CDE), CalServe Initiative provides grants to local educational
agencies across the state to support the design and
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implementation of service-learning. According to the CDE,
service-learning is an instructional reform strategy that
actively involves youths in academic programs through service to
their communities. Service learning is defined as a method
under which students or participants learn and develop through
active participation in thoughtfully organized service that is
conducted in and meets the needs of a community; is coordinated
with a school, institution of higher education, or community
service program, and with the community; and helps foster civic
responsibility. Additionally, service learning is integrated
into the academic curriculum and provides structured time for
the students or participants to reflect on the service
experience.
The History/Social Science (H/SS) curriculum framework is
currently under revision and the draft of this document appears
to include an appendix that highlights service-learning as an
effective instructional strategy to enhance academic learning,
meet community needs, foster civic responsibility, and address
the dropout crisis. This is a new development within the H/SS
framework that could further highlight service-learning in
California schools.
The author states, "One of the ways we can encourage students to
volunteer their time would be by having the option of receiving
graduation credit for completing a certain number of community
service hours. Although some school districts are already doing
this, authorizing it in statute would clarify the minimum number
of community service hours required to in order to receive
credit, as well as encourage districts that don't currently
offer credit. In order to foster a public service commitment in
our youth, we should strive to encourage and better facilitate
community service opportunities."
Related legislation: AB 167 (Adams) requires a school district
to exempt foster youth who transfer into a school district in
grade 11 or 12 from any coursework requirements imposed by the
district that exceed the minimum state graduation requirements
if the foster youth cannot complete the additional requirements
in time to graduate from high school. AB 167 is pending in the
Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB 381 (Wright) prohibits a school district from adopting a
graduation requirement that requires the completion of
additional coursework to meet or exceed the requirements and
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prerequisites for admission to a four-year California public
university unless the district also adopts an optional
graduation requirement that requires the completion of an equal
amount of coursework to attain entry-level employment skills in
business or industry upon graduation from high school. SB 381
is pending in this Committee.
Legislative Counsel has identified AB 167 (Adams) and SB 381
(Wright) as having technical conflicts with this bill as all
three bills amend the same Education Code section.
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0001762