Bill Text: CA SB897 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Educational programs: history-social science framework: adult education: civics instruction.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-09-19 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 480, Statutes of 2014. [SB897 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB897-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 897 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 480
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 29, 2014
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 27, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 22, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 2, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 3, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE FEBRUARY 20, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Senator Steinberg
JANUARY 13, 2014
An act to amend Sections 33540 and 84830 of the Education Code,
relating to educational programs.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 897, Steinberg. Educational programs: history-social science
framework: adult education: civics instruction.
(1) Existing law requires the State Board of Education and the
State Department of Education to request that the Instructional
Quality Commission review and revise, as necessary, the course
requirements in the history-social science framework, as specified.
Existing law requires the commission, when revising the
history-social science framework and as appropriate and based on the
subject matter of the course, to ensure that certain historical
documents are incorporated into the framework, consider incorporating
additional specified historical documents into the framework, and
encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the
governments of California and the United States of America.
This bill would also require the commission, whenever it revises
the history-social science framework and as appropriate and based on
the subject matter of the course, to, among other things, receive
input from civics learning experts for purposes of integrating civics
learning content, concepts, and skills, at all appropriate grade
levels, with certain standards, and ensure that voter education
information is included in the American government and civics
curriculum at the high school level, as specified. The bill would
state the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of the
history-social science framework that is revised any time after July
1, 2015, that the commission consider whether and how to incorporate
a specified social studies framework into that framework. The bill
also would require the state board to consider incorporating the
specified social studies framework into the history-social science
content standards when those content standards are next revised after
January 1, 2015.
(2) Existing law, pursuant to funding made available in the annual
Budget Act, requires the Chancellor of the California Community
Colleges and the State Department of Education to jointly provide
2-year planning and implementation grants to regional consortia of
community college districts and school districts for purposes of
developing regional plans to better serve the educational needs of
adults. Existing law requires the grant funds to be used by each
regional consortium to create and implement a plan to better provide
adults in the region with certain classes and programs, including,
among other things, elementary and secondary basic skills, including
classes required for a high school diploma or high school equivalency
certificate, and classes and courses for immigrants eligible for
educational services in citizenship and English as a 2nd language,
and workforce preparation classes in basic skills.
This bill would require the classes and courses related to
elementary and secondary basic skills and the classes and courses for
immigrants, as described above, to distribute basic information on
American government and civics that includes, but is not limited to,
instruction on (A) federal, state, and local government, (B) the 3
branches of government, (C) the importance of civic engagement, and
(D) registering to vote.
(3) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section
33540 of the Education Code proposed by AB 1599 that would become
operative if this bill and AB 1599 are both enacted on or before
January 1, 2015, and this bill is enacted last.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 33540 of the Education Code is amended to read:
33540. (a) The state board and the department shall request that
the commission review and revise, as necessary, the course
requirements in the history-social science framework developed by the
History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Criteria Committee
of the state board to ensure that minimum standards for courses in
American government and civics include sufficient attention to
teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner, with state
and local governmental agencies and representatives to solve problems
and to petition for changes in laws and procedures, and that the
course requirements in the history-social science framework are also
included in all history and social science courses and all grade
levels, as appropriate.
(b) Whenever the history-social science framework is revised as
required by law, the commission shall do, as appropriate and based on
the subject matter of the course, all of the following:
(1) Receive input from civics learning experts, including civics
education program providers, associations of civics educators, and
organizations dedicated to research on civics learning, for purposes
of integrating civics learning content, concepts, and skills, at all
appropriate grade levels, with the standards established by the state
board in core curriculum areas, as specified in Section 60605, as
that section read on June 30, 2011, and Section 60605.8.
(2) Consider how civics and history instruction, at all
appropriate grade levels, includes, in addition to the acquisition of
content knowledge, the application of that content to develop the
competence and skills needed for civic engagement.
(3) Ensure that voter education information is included in the
American government and civics curriculum at the high school level,
including, but not limited to, information on the importance of
registering to vote in local, state, and federal elections, how to
register to vote, both online and by mail, what the requirements are
to register to vote, how to request an absentee ballot, how to fill
out and return an absentee ballot, what to expect on election day,
how to find a polling place, and where and how to access and
understand the voter information pamphlet and other materials to
become an informed voter.
(4) Ensure the following historical documents are incorporated
into the framework:
(A) The Declaration of Independence.
(B) The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
(C) The Federalist Papers.
(D) The Emancipation Proclamation.
(E) The Gettysburg Address.
(F) George Washington's Farewell Address.
(5) Consider incorporating the following historical documents into
the framework:
(A) The Magna Carta.
(B) The Articles of Confederation.
(C) The California Constitution.
(6) Encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the
governments of California and the United States of America,
including, but not limited to, the development of democracy and the
history of the development of the United States Constitution.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of the
history-social science framework that is revised any time after July
1, 2015, that the commission consider whether and how to incorporate
the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies
State Standards into that framework.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of the
history-social science framework that is revised after January 1,
2015, that the requirements imposed pursuant to paragraphs (1) to
(3), inclusive, of subdivision (b) may be satisfied under the
framework adoption procedures being used by the department as of
January 1, 2015.
(e) When the history-social science content standards are next
revised after January 1, 2015, the state board shall consider
incorporating the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for
Social Studies State Standards into the history-social science
content standards.
SEC. 1.5. Section 33540 of the Education Code is amended to read:
33540. (a) The state board and the department shall request that
the commission review and revise, as necessary, the course
requirements in the history-social science framework developed by the
History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Criteria Committee
of the state board to ensure that minimum standards for courses in
American government and civics include sufficient attention to
teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner, with state
and local governmental agencies and representatives to solve problems
and to petition for changes in laws and procedures, and that the
course requirements in the history-social science framework are also
included in all history and social science courses and all grade
levels, as appropriate.
(b) Whenever the history-social science framework is revised as
required by law, the commission shall do, as appropriate and based on
the subject matter of the course, all of the following:
(1) Receive input from civics learning experts, including civics
education program providers, associations of civics educators, and
organizations dedicated to research on civics learning, for purposes
of integrating civics learning content, concepts, and skills, at all
appropriate grade levels, with the standards established by the state
board in core curriculum areas, as specified in Section 60605, as
that section read on June 30, 2011, and Section 60605.8.
(2) Consider how civics and history instruction, at all
appropriate grade levels, includes, in addition to the acquisition of
content knowledge, the application of that content to develop the
competence and skills needed for civic engagement.
(3) Ensure that voter education information is included in the
American government and civics curriculum at the high school level,
including, but not limited to, information on the importance of
registering to vote in local, state, and federal elections, how to
register to vote, both online and by mail, what the requirements are
to register to vote, how to request an absentee ballot, how to fill
out and return an absentee ballot, what to expect on election day,
how to find a polling place, and where and how to access and
understand the voter information pamphlet and other materials to
become an informed voter.
(4) Ensure the following historical documents are incorporated
into the framework:
(A) The Declaration of Independence.
(B) The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
(C) The Federalist Papers.
(D) The Emancipation Proclamation.
(E) The Gettysburg Address.
(F) George Washington's Farewell Address.
(5) Consider incorporating the following historical documents into
the framework:
(A) The Magna Carta.
(B) The Articles of Confederation.
(C) The California Constitution.
(6) Encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the
governments of California and the United States of America,
including, but not limited to, the development of democracy and the
history of the development of the United States Constitution.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of the
history-social science framework that is revised any time after
January 1, 2015, that the commission consider whether and how to
incorporate the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for
Social Studies State Standards into that framework.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature, for purposes of only the
history-social science framework that is revised after January 1,
2015, that the requirements imposed pursuant to paragraphs (1) to
(3), inclusive, of subdivision (b) may be satisfied under the
framework adoption procedures currently being used by the department
as of January 1, 2015.
(e) When the history-social science content standards are next
revised after January 1, 2015, the state board shall consider
incorporating the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for
Social Studies State Standards into the history-social science
content standards.
SEC. 2. Section 84830 of the Education Code is amended to read:
84830. (a) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges
and the State Department of Education shall, pursuant to funding made
available in the annual Budget Act, jointly provide two-year
planning and implementation grants to regional consortia of community
college districts and school districts for the purpose of developing
regional plans to better serve the educational needs of adults.
(1) Eligibility shall be limited to consortia consisting of at
least one community college district and at least one school district
within the boundaries of the community college district, either of
which may serve as the consortium's fiscal agent, as determined by
the applicant consortium.
(2) If a community college district chooses not to participate in
a consortium, a neighboring community college district may form a
consortium with school districts within the boundaries of the
nonparticipating community college district.
(3) Consortia may include other entities providing adult education
courses, including, but not necessarily limited to, correctional
facilities, other local public entities, and community-based
organizations.
(b) Grant funds provided pursuant to this section shall be used by
each regional consortium to create and implement a plan to better
provide adults in its region with all of the following:
(1) Elementary and secondary basic skills, including classes
required for a high school diploma or high school equivalency
certificate.
(2) Classes and courses for immigrants eligible for educational
services in citizenship and English as a second language, and
workforce preparation classes in basic skills.
(3) Education programs for adults with disabilities.
(4) Short-term career technical education programs with high
employment potential.
(5) Programs for apprentices.
(c) (1) The classes and courses described in paragraphs (1) and
(2) of subdivision (b) shall distribute basic information on American
government and civics that includes, but is not limited to,
instruction on all of the following:
(A) Federal, state, and local government.
(B) The three branches of government.
(C) The importance of civic engagement.
(D) Registering to vote.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that, consistent with the
requirements of Sections 51225.3 and 52555, students enrolled in
classes and courses described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subdivision (b) in which instruction in American government and
civics is appropriate shall receive instruction in American
government and civics.
(d) Each regional consortium's plan shall include, at a minimum:
(1) An evaluation of current levels and types of adult education
programs within its region, including education for adults in
correctional facilities; credit, noncredit, and enhanced noncredit
adult education coursework; and programs funded through Title II of
the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, known as the Adult
Education and Family Literacy Act (Public Law 105-220).
(2) An evaluation of current needs for adult education programs
within its region.
(3) Plans for parties that make up the consortium to integrate
their existing programs and create seamless transitions into
postsecondary education or the workforce.
(4) Plans to address the gaps identified pursuant to paragraphs
(1) and (2).
(5) Plans to employ approaches proven to accelerate a student's
progress toward his or her academic or career goals, such as
contextualized basic skills and career technical education, and other
joint programming strategies between adult education and career
technical education.
(6) Plans to collaborate in the provision of ongoing professional
development opportunities for faculty and other staff to help them
achieve greater program integration and improve student outcomes.
(7) Plans to leverage existing regional structures, including, but
not necessarily limited to, local workforce investment areas.
(e) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the
State Department of Education may identify additional elements that
consortia must include in a plan.
(f) (1) On or before March 1, 2014, the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education
shall submit a joint report to the Legislature and the Governor. This
report shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, both of the
following:
(A) The status of developing regional consortia across the state,
including identification of unserved geographic areas or emerging
gaps in regional program delivery.
(B) The status and allocation of grant awards made to regional
consortia.
(2) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature as provided
in Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g) (1) On or before March 1, 2015, the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education
shall submit a joint report to the Legislature and the Governor. This
report shall include, but is not limited to, both of the following:
(A) The plans developed by regional consortia across the state.
(B) Recommendations for additional improvements in the delivery
system serving adult learners.
(2) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature as provided
in Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(h) It is the intent of the Legislature to work toward developing
common policies related to adult education affecting adult schools at
local educational agencies and community colleges, including
policies on fees and funding levels.
(i) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide additional
funding in the 2015-16 fiscal year to regional consortia to expand
and improve the provision of adult education.
SEC. 3. Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to
Section 33540 of the Education Code proposed by both this bill and
Assembly Bill 1599. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills
are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2015, (2)
each bill amends Section 33540 of the Education Code, and (3) this
bill is enacted after Assembly Bill 1599, in which case Section 1 of
this bill shall not become operative.
