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

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

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-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 101	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 18, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly  Member   Alejo
  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, as amended, 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  framework, professional development standards,
  framework  and other support systems 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  state  board about programs,
 professional development,  curriculum content, and
other issues related to ethnic studies. The bill would require the
Superintendent, on or before June 30, 2016, to submit to the 
state  board a plan to fully implement these requirements. The
bill would, beginning the school year following the adoption of the
model curriculum, require each school district maintaining any of
grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer, as an elective course in the
social sciences, a course of study in ethnic studies based on the
model curriculum framework. Because school districts would be
required to offer ethnic studies courses, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
   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.


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  library   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 
students   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  student   pupil  truancy, increase
 student   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  of Public Instruction
 shall oversee the development of, and the  State
Board of Education   state bo   ard  shall
adopt, a model curriculum  framework, professional
development standards,   framework  and other
support systems to ensure quality courses of study in ethnic studies
through partnerships with universities with ethnic studies programs.
The model curriculum framework 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
 consisting of relevant stakeholders, including, but not
limited to, students, parents, state personnel, ethnic studies
scholars, university professors, and teachers with ethnic studies
experience.   comprising 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  state  board about
programs,  professional development,  curriculum
content, and other issues related to ethnic studies.
   (c) On or before June 30, 2016, the Superintendent shall submit to
the  state  board a plan to fully implement this section
that includes, at a minimum, key actions needed to overcome any
challenges foreseen to implementing this section,  time
tables,   timetables,  staffing responsibilities,
and budget requirements.
   (d) Beginning the school year following the adoption of the model
curriculum framework pursuant to subdivision (a), each school
district maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall 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 framework.
  SEC. 3.   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.