Enrolled  September 15, 2017
Passed  IN  Senate  September 12, 2017
Passed  IN  Assembly  September 14, 2017
Amended  IN  Senate  June 19, 2017
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 18, 2017
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 28, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 1399


Introduced by Assembly Member Nazarian

February 17, 2017


An act to add Section 44257.5 to the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1399, Nazarian. Teacher credentialing: recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights.
Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish standards and to determine the terms for the issuance and renewal of teaching credentials, certificates, and permits, as specified.
This bill would authorize the commission to convene a workgroup to advise the commission on the establishment of program standards for the issuance of a recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights for holders of a single subject teaching credential and would authorize the commission to add this recognition of study to the single subject teaching credential of a teacher who meets the program standards established by the workgroup. The bill would make the commission’s authority to convene the workgroup subject to a determination by the Department of Finance that private funds sufficient to support the workgroup’s activities have been deposited with the state. The bill would authorize the workgroup to perform specified other duties relating to genocide studies, including advising the Governor and the Legislature on strategies to improve genocide, human rights, and tolerance education and to promote genocide, atrocities, and human rights education.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 44257.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

44257.5.
 (a) For purposes of this section, “recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights” means a statement added to a single subject teaching credential to indicate that the holder of the single subject teaching credential has completed a commission-approved program that can be applied to the academic instruction authorized by his or her credential. A recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights teacher education program may be offered as part of an initial teacher preparation program or as a separate program for teachers who possess a valid single subject teaching credential.
(b) The commission may convene a workgroup to develop program standards for the issuance of a recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights for holders of a single subject teaching credential. The workgroup may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) The Superintendent or his or her representative.
(2) Representatives from approved teacher preparation programs, including at least one representative from the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities. To the extent practicable, the representatives described in this paragraph shall have an academic interest or prior experience in preparing teachers to teach pupils in genocide, atrocities, and human rights.
(3) A researcher.
(4) A historian.
(5) A representative from a school district, a county office of education, or a charter school.
(6) A history-social science teacher.
(7) A representative of other organizations deemed appropriate by the commission.
(8) A parent representative.
(c) The duties of the workgroup may also include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Advise the Governor and the Legislature on strategies to improve genocide, human rights, and tolerance education.
(2) Identify all programs in the state that train teachers in genocide, atrocities, and human rights studies.
(3) Identify all nonprofit organizations in the state that train teachers in genocide, atrocities, and human rights studies.
(4) Identify strategies for improving access to genocide, atrocities, and human rights education materials and information.
(5) Promote education on genocide, atrocities, and human rights.
(d) The commission may add a recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights to the single subject teaching credential of a teacher who meets the standards established pursuant to this section.
(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that a successful candidate for a recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, as determined by the commission, based on the recommendations of the workgroup convened pursuant to subdivision (b).
(f) The California State University and other teacher preparation institutions are encouraged to establish goals to increase the number of teachers participating in genocide, atrocities, and human rights education programs.
(g) The commission and the Superintendent may gather and post, on an appropriate Internet Web site, a list of nonprofit organizations and best practices from school districts and schools on curriculum development and professional development relating to implementing and sustaining genocide, atrocities, and human rights education programs.
(h) The commission shall use private funds to support the development of the recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights as described in this section. General Fund moneys shall not be used for this purpose.
(i) A recognition of study in genocide, atrocities, and human rights issued pursuant to this section shall not be considered a type of authorization, shall not be used as a condition of employment, shall not replace a subject matter competence requirement, and shall not be used in making employment decisions pursuant to Section 44955.
(j) The workgroup described in subdivision (b) may be convened only after the Department of Finance determines that private funds, in an amount sufficient to fully support the activities of the workgroup, have been deposited with the state. If the Department of Finance determines that sufficient funding has been secured to establish and support the activities of the workgroup, the Department of Finance shall file a written statement with the Secretary of the Senate, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, and the Legislative Counsel memorializing that this determination has been made.