Bill Text: CA SB520 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
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
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
BILL NUMBER: SB 520 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 2, 2009 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 3, 2009 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: community 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 offerone credit towards the required number of credits required for graduation from high school for each 12credit, as specified, for hours of community service provided outside of regular school hours by a pupil,up to a maximum of 5 credits per pupil per semester, andfor a maximum of 2 semesters. The bill would require a school district that elects to offer credit for community service to establish and maintain a list of suitable community service organizations from which a pupil would be required to choose to complete the community service hours. The bill also would require a school district to require the pupil to submit a report or other academic assignments, as determined by the district, on the community service experience and would require the community service organization 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 offerone credit towards the required number of credits necessary for graduation from high school for each 12 hours ofcredit in an amount that is equivalent to that of a one-semester elective co urse in that district for hours of community service provided outside of regular school hours by apupil, up to a maximum of five credits per pupil per semester, andpupil 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. A school district that elects to offer credit for community service shall establish and maintain a list of suitable community service organizations, excludingpolitical and advocacy organizationsorganizations whose sole purpose is political advocacy , from which a pupil shall choose to complete the community service hours, shall 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 shall require the community service organization to verify the hours served by the pupil.