California Assembly Bill AB424 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 424AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 23, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 13, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Donnelly FEBRUARY 15, 2013 An act to amend  Sections   Section  33540  and 51220  of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 424, as amended, Donnelly. Pupil instruction: social sciences: State and Federal Constitutions.  (1) Existing   Existing  law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to ensure that certain historical documents are incorporated, as appropriate, into the history-social science framework. This bill would  add   require the commission, when revising the history-social science framework, to   do so based on the subject matter of the course in addition to appropriateness, to consider incorporating  the Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, and the California Constitution  to the historical documents that are required to be incorporated into that framework and would require them to be incorporated based on the subject matter of the course.   into the history-social science framework, and to encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the governments of California and the United States of America, as specified.  The bill would require that it not be construed as requiring the Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically for purposes of implementing the changes made by the bill and would require any recommended revisions made by the bill to be implemented in accordance with the regular adoption schedule.  (2) Existing law requires instruction in social sciences for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America.   This bill would require instruction in the social sciences also to include the development of democracy and the history of the development of the United States Constitution. To the extent that this requirement would require additional instruction, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.   (3) 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: yes. State-mandated local program:  yes   no  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 33540 of the Education Code is amended to read: 33540. (a) The state board and the department shall request that the commission review and revise, as necessary, the course requirements in the history-social science framework developed by the History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Criteria Committee of the state board to ensure that minimum standards for courses in American government and civics include sufficient attention to teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner, with state and local governmental agencies and representatives to solve problems and to petition for changes in laws and procedures. (b) When the history-social science framework is revised as required by law, the commission shall  ensure that   do   , as appropriate and based on the subject matter of the course, all of  the  following historical documents are incorporated into the framework, as appropriate, based on the subject matter of the course:   following:   (1) Ensure the following historical documents are incorporated in the framework:   (1)   (A)  The Declaration of Independence.  (2)   (B)  The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.  (3)   (C)  The Federalist Papers.  (4)   (D)  The Emancipation Proclamation.  (5)   (E)  The Gettysburg Address.  (6)   (F)  George Washington's Farewell Address.  (7) The Magna Carta.   (8) The Articles of Confederation.   (9) The California Constitution.   (2) Consider incorporating the following historical documents into the framework:   (A) The Magna Carta.   (B) The Articles of Confederation.   (C) The California Constitution.   (3) Encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the governments of California and the United States of America, including, but not limited to, the development of democracy and the history of the development of the United States Constitution.   SEC. 2.   Section 51220 of the Education Code is amended to read: 51220. The adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall offer courses in the following areas of study: (a) English, including knowledge of and appreciation for literature, language, and composition, and the skills of reading, listening, and speaking. (b) Social sciences, drawing upon the disciplines of anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the pupils. Instruction shall provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and governments of California and the United States of America, including the development of democracy and the history of the development of the United States Constitution; instruction in our American legal system, the operation of the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, and the rights and duties of citizens under the criminal and civil law and the State and Federal Constitutions; the development of the American economic system, including the role of the entrepreneur and labor; the relations of persons to their human and natural environment; eastern and western cultures and civilizations; human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust, and contemporary issues. (c) Foreign language or languages, beginning not later than grade 7, designed to develop a facility for understanding, speaking, reading, and writing the particular language. (d) Physical education, with emphasis given to physical activities that are conducive to health and to vigor of body and mind, as required by Section 51222. (e) Science, including the physical and biological aspects, with emphasis on basic concepts, theories, and processes of scientific investigation and on the place of humans in ecological systems, and with appropriate applications of the interrelation and interdependence of the sciences. (f) Mathematics, including instruction designed to develop mathematical understandings, operational skills, and insight into problem-solving procedures. (g) Visual and performing arts, including dance, music, theater, and visual arts, with emphasis upon development of aesthetic appreciation and the skills of creative expression. (h) Applied arts, including instruction in the areas of consumer and homemaking education, industrial arts, general business education, or general agriculture. (i) Career technical education designed and conducted for the purpose of preparing youth for gainful employment in the occupations and in the numbers that are appropriate to the personnel needs of the state and the community served and relevant to the career desires and needs of the pupils. (j) Automobile driver education, designed to develop a knowledge of the provisions of the Vehicle Code and other laws of this state relating to the operation of motor vehicles, a proper acceptance of personal responsibility in traffic, a true appreciation of the causes, seriousness, and consequences of traffic accidents, and to develop the knowledge and attitudes necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles. A course in automobile driver education shall include education in the safe operation of motorcycles. (k) Other studies as may be prescribed by the governing board.   SEC. 3.   SEC. 2.  This act shall not be construed as requiring the Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically for purposes of implementing the changes made by Section 1 of this act, and any recommended revisions made pursuant to Section 1 of this act shall be implemented in accordance with the regular adoption schedule.  SEC. 4.   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.