Bill Text: CA SB520 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: High school curriculum: community service.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-01-19 - Stricken from Senate file. [SB520 Detail]

Download: California-2009-SB520-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 520	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 12, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 30, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Pavley
    (   Coauthors:   Senators  
Alquist   and Romero   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, relating to
high school curriculum.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 520, as amended, Pavley. High school curriculum: volunteer
service.
   Existing law sets forth the courses a pupil is required to
complete while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to graduate
from high school and authorizes the governing board of a school
district to specify by rule other required coursework.
   This bill would authorize the governing board of a school district
to offer one credit towards the required number of credits required
for graduation from high school for each 12 hours of volunteer
service provided  outside of regular school hours  by a
pupil, up to a maximum of 5 credits per pupil per semester, and for a
maximum of 2 semesters. The bill would require a school district
that elects to offer credit for volunteer service to establish and
maintain a list of suitable volunteer organizations from which a
pupil  may   would be required to  choose
to complete the volunteer hours.  The bill also would require a
school district to require the pupil to submit a report on the
volunteer experience and the volunteer organizations to verify the
hours served by the pupil. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 51225.3 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   51225.3.  (a) No pupil shall receive a diploma of graduation from
high school who, while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, has not
completed all of the following:
   (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 foreign language.
For the purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this
subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a
course in foreign language.
   (F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been
exempted pursuant to the provisions of this code.
   (2) Other coursework as the governing board of the school district
may by rule specify.
   (b) The governing board, 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, career
technical education classes offered in high schools, courses offered
by regional occupational centers or programs, interdisciplinary
study, independent study, and credit earned at a postsecondary
institution. Requirements for graduation and specified alternative
modes for completing the prescribed course of study shall be made
available to pupils, parents, and the public.
   (c) The governing board of a school district may 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  outside of regular school hours  by a pupil, up to
a maximum of five credits per pupil per semester, and for a maximum
of  any  two semesters  that the pupil attends high
school  . A school district that elects to offer credit for
volunteer service shall establish and maintain a list of suitable
volunteer organizations  , excluding political and advocacy
organizations,  from which a pupil  may  
shall  choose to complete the volunteer hours  , shall
require a pupil to submit a report to a school representative on the
volunteer   experience, and shall require the volunteer
organization to verify the hours served by the pupil  .