Amended
IN
Assembly
April 18, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 23, 2023 |
Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta |
February 17, 2023 |
Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer courses in, among other things, social studies, drawing upon the disciplines of anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the pupils. Existing law requires this instruction to, among other things, provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America.
This bill would require school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to work with registered community organizations, as defined, to voluntarily integrate pupils into civic engagement practicums, as defined, that address community needs and social and individual development. The bill would, among other things, require civic
engagement practicums to include activities, training, and training materials that meet specified requirements, including, among others, that they be appropriate for pupils of all races, religions, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, pupils with disabilities, and English learners. The bill would require the written consent of a pupil’s parent, legal guardian, or educational rights holder to participate in a civic engagement practicum, and would authorize a pupil to opt out at any time. The bill would require a participating registered community organization to be responsible for any costs associated with a pupil’s integration into a civic engagement practicum. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by
the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Civics education includes both learning and doing.
(b)In the classroom, civic education teaches the theory of democracy, the forms and structures of our federal, state, and local governments, and the elements of both the Constitution of the United States and the California Constitution.
(c)In the community, civics education guides pupils to engage in a practicum for their individual or group involvement in nonpartisan community development, which further prepares
them to work with others in a fair and equitable manner based on listening, questioning, respectful dialogue, cooperation, and compromise.
(d)A civic engagement practicum educates for democracy and will help protect and promote democracy for future generations, and increase understanding of the power of democracy for all children.
(e)A practicum based on equitable civic engagement develops conduct that permits the growth of ethics and values. Direct civic involvement teaches the attributes of public service and fosters an informed citizenry, a strong democracy, and the development of our nation’s future leaders.
(f)Pupils participating in civic engagement practicums learn basic skills for personal,
academic, and career success, including practicing consideration of different perspectives, logical reasoning with supportive evidence, engagement in civil discourse, and understanding of the connections between federal, state, and local policies, including those that may impact the pupil’s school or community.
(a)School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools shall work with registered community organizations to voluntarily integrate pupils into civic engagement practicums that address community needs and social and individual development.
(b)A civic engagement practicum for purposes of subdivision (a) shall include activities, training, and training materials that meet all of the following requirements:
(1)Are appropriate for pupils of all races, religions, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, pupils with disabilities, and English
learners.
(2)Do not reflect or promote, directly or indirectly, any bias, bigotry, or discrimination against any person or group of persons.
(3)Do not promote or practice religious doctrine.
(4)Are nonpartisan in nature.
(c)A participating registered community organization shall comply with any applicable legal requirements, including, but not limited to, any requirements relating to liability, insurance, background checks, and the management and supervision of all persons, employees, or volunteers, who interact with pupils, including those specified in Section 45125.1.
(d)(1)Participation in a civic engagement practicum shall require the written consent of a pupil’s parent, legal guardian, or educational rights holder.
(2)A pupil may opt out of a civic engagement practicum at any time.
(e)A participating registered community organization shall be responsible for any costs associated with a pupil’s integration into a civic engagement practicum.
(f)For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
(1)“Civic engagement practicum” means a practical activity and training that develops civic-mindedness through organizing and mobilizing human and material resources for efforts to revitalize and develop the
quality of life, including, but not limited to, organizing community cleanups, public health campaigns, and promoting and educating the community about public resources, such as events sponsored by public parks, libraries, and fire and police departments.
(2)“Registered community organization” means a legal entity with community stakeholder or community partnership capacity, registered with the Secretary of State, that is nonpartisan in nature, and which may include, but is not limited to, a nonprofit public benefit corporation that is formed pursuant to the Nonprofit Corporation Law (Division 2 (commencing with Section 5000) of Title 1 of the Corporations Code), qualified to do business in California, and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.