Bill Text

Bill Information


Bill PDF |Add To My Favorites | print page

AB-424 Pupil instruction: social sciences: State and Federal Constitutions.(2013-2014)

SHARE THIS: share this bill in Facebook share this bill in Twitter
AB424:v94#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 424
CHAPTER 484

An act to amend Section 33540 of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.

[ Approved by Governor  October 02, 2013. Filed with Secretary of State  October 02, 2013. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 424, Donnelly. Pupil instruction: social sciences: State and Federal Constitutions.
Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to ensure that certain historical documents are incorporated, as appropriate, into the history-social science framework.
This bill would require the commission, when revising the history-social science framework, to do so based on the subject matter of the course in addition to appropriateness, to consider incorporating the Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, and the California Constitution into the history-social science framework, and to encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the governments of California and the United States of America, as specified. The bill would require that it not be construed as requiring the Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically for purposes of implementing the changes made by the bill and would require any recommended revisions made by the bill to be implemented in accordance with the regular adoption schedule and to not increase the costs of developing any subsequent history-social science framework.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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.
(b) When 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) Ensure the following historical documents are incorporated in 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.
(2) Consider incorporating the following historical documents into the framework:
(A) The Magna Carta.
(B) The Articles of Confederation.
(C) The California Constitution.
(3) 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.

SEC. 2.

 This act shall not be construed as requiring the Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically for purposes of implementing the changes made by Section 1 of this act, and any recommended revisions made pursuant to Section 1 of this act shall be implemented in accordance with the regular adoption schedule and shall not increase the costs of developing any subsequent history-social science framework.