Bill Text: CA AB101 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Pupil instruction: ethnic studies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2016-01-15 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB101 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB101-Enrolled.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 101	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 8, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 1, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 18, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Alejo, Jones-Sawyer, and Bonta
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Holden)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia,
Santiago, and Ting)

                        JANUARY 8, 2015

   An act to add Section 51226.7 to the Education Code, relating to
pupil instruction.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 101, Alejo. Pupil instruction: ethnic studies.
   Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 7 to
12, inclusive, to include, among other subjects, the social sciences.
Existing law requires the State Board of Education, with the
assistance of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to establish
a list of textbooks and other instructional materials that highlight
the contributions of minorities in the development of California and
the United States.
   This bill would require the Superintendent to oversee the
development of, and the state board to adopt, a model curriculum to
ensure quality courses in ethnic studies. The bill would require the
Superintendent to establish an Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee and
would require the committee to advise, assist, and make
recommendations to the Superintendent regarding the development of
the model curriculum. The bill would, beginning the school year
following the adoption of the model curriculum, authorize each school
district maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer, as
an elective in the social sciences, a course of study in ethnic
studies based on the model curriculum.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The State of California is committed to providing excellent
educational opportunities to all of its pupils.
   (b) There are 92 languages other than English spoken throughout
the state, with the primary languages being Arabic, Armenian,
Cantonese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
   (c) There is a growing body of academic research that shows the
importance of culturally meaningful and relevant curriculum.
   (d) Based on the National Education Association (NEA) publication,
The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies, the inclusion of
ethnic studies in a curriculum has a positive impact on pupils of
color.
   (e) Ethnic studies benefit pupils in observable ways, such as
pupils becoming more academically engaged, increasing their
performance on academic tests, improving their graduation rates, and
developing a sense of self-efficacy and personal empowerment.
   (f) The state's educational standards should be guided by core
values of equity, inclusiveness, and universally high expectations.
   (g) The state is committed to its efforts to provide all pupils
with excellent educational opportunities, without regard to race,
gender, ethnicity, nationality, income, sexual orientation, or
disability.
   (h) The state is committed to its obligation to ensure its youth
are college prepared and career ready, while graduating 100 percent
of its pupils.
   (i) The implementation of various ethnic studies courses within
California's curriculum that are A-G approved, with the objective of
preparing pupils to be global citizens with an appreciation for the
contributions of multiple cultures, will close the achievement gap,
reduce pupil truancy, increase pupil enrollment, reduce dropout
rates, and increase graduation rates.
   (j) The state should support efforts in recruiting and retaining
teachers who have relevant experience and educational background in
the study or teaching of ethnic studies.
  SEC. 2.  Section 51226.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   51226.7.  (a) The Superintendent shall oversee the development of,
and the state board shall adopt, a model curriculum to ensure
quality courses of study in ethnic studies through partnerships with
universities with ethnic studies programs. The model curriculum shall
meet the A-G approval requirements of the Regents of the University
of California.
   (b) (1) On or before the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, the
Superintendent shall establish an Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee
comprised of a majority of educators with experience in teaching
ethnic studies from public high schools and institutions of higher
education.
   (2) The Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee shall advise, assist,
and make recommendations to the Superintendent regarding the
development of the model curriculum pursuant to subdivision (a).
   (3) Upon completion of the development of the model curriculum
pursuant to subdivision (a), the Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee
shall cease to exist.
    (c) Beginning the school year following the adoption of the model
curriculum pursuant to subdivision (a), each school district
maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, may offer to all
otherwise qualified pupils in those grades, as an elective in the
social sciences, a course of study in ethnic studies based on the
model curriculum.