BILL NUMBER: AB 101	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo

                        JANUARY 8, 2015

    An act to amend Section 33500 of the Education Code,
relating to state educational programs.   An act to add
Section 51226.7 to the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.




	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 101, as amended, Alejo.  State educational programs:
educational advisory bodies.   Pupil instruction: ethnic
studies.  
   Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 7 to
12, inclusive, to include, among other subjects, the social sciences.
Existing law requires the State Board of Education, with the
assistance of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to establish
a list of textbooks and other instructional materials that highlight
the contributions of minorities in the development of California and
the United States.  
   This bill would require the Superintendent to oversee the
development of, and the board to adopt, a model curriculum framework,
professional development standards, and other support systems to
ensure quality courses in ethnic studies. The bill would require the
Superintendent to establish an Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee and
would require the committee to advise, assist, and make
recommendations to the board about programs, professional
development, curriculum content, and other issues related to ethnic
studies. The bill would require the Superintendent, on or before June
30, 2016, to submit to the board a plan to fully implement these
requirements. The bill would, beginning the school year following the
adoption of the model curriculum, require each school district
maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer, as an
elective course in the social sciences, a course of study in ethnic
studies based on the model curriculum framework. Because school
districts would be required to offer ethnic studies courses, this
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 these
statutory provisions.  
   Existing law establishes preschool programs and public and private
elementary and secondary schools throughout the state. Existing law
also establishes the State Board of Education and the State
Department of Education to provide guidance and support to local
educational agencies and other entities that operate schools and
preschool programs, and further authorizes the establishment and
operation of numerous educational programs on the state level that
are administered by the state board, the department, or other state
agencies.  
   Existing law expresses the finding and declaration of the
Legislature that there is a need to encourage the adoption of new or
improved educational ideas, practices, and techniques in solving
critical educational problems in preschool, elementary, and secondary
schools throughout the state, but that there are a large number of
permanent commissions, committees, and councils, some of which have
overlapping duties and functions or that have been perpetuated in
existence beyond the original need or purpose for which they were
created. Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature to
create 3 levels of educational advisory bodies, as specified.
 
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes in these provisions.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes  .


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares all
of the following:  
   (a) The State of California is committed to providing excellent
educational opportunities to all of its pupils.  
   (b) There are 92 languages other than English spoken throughout
the state, with the primary languages being Arabic, Armenian,
Cantonese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. 

   (c) There is a growing library of academic research that shows the
importance of culturally meaningful and relevant curriculum. 

   (d) Based on the National Education Association (NEA) publication,
The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies, the inclusion of
ethnic studies in a curriculum has a positive impact on students of
color.  
   (e) Ethnic studies benefit pupils in observable ways, such as
pupils becoming more academically engaged, increasing their
performance on academic tests, improving their graduation rates, and
developing a sense of self-efficacy and personal empowerment. 

   (f) The state's educational standards should be guided by core
values of equity, inclusiveness, and universally high expectations.
 
   (g) The state is committed to its efforts to provide all pupils
with excellent educational opportunities, without regard to race,
gender, ethnicity, nationality, income, sexual orientation, or
disability.  
   (h) The state is committed to its obligation to ensure its youth
are college prepared and career ready, while graduating 100 percent
of its pupils.  
   (i) The implementation of various ethnic studies courses within
California's curriculum that are A-G approved, with the objective of
preparing pupils to be global citizens with an appreciation for the
contributions of multiple cultures, will close the achievement gap,
reduce student truancy, increase student enrollment, reduce dropout
rates, and increase graduation rates.  
   (j) The state should support efforts in recruiting and retaining
teachers who have relevant experience and educational background in
the study or teaching of ethnic studies. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 51226.7 is added to the  
Education Code   , to read:  
   51226.7.  (a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall
oversee the development of, and the State Board of Education shall
adopt, a model curriculum framework, professional development
standards, and other support systems to ensure quality courses of
study in ethnic studies through partnerships with universities with
ethnic studies programs. The model curriculum framework shall meet
the A-G approval requirements of the Regents of the University of
California.
   (b) (1) On or before the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, the
Superintendent shall establish an Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee
consisting of relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to,
students, parents, state personnel, ethnic studies scholars,
university professors, and teachers with ethnic studies experience.
   (2) The Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee shall advise, assist,
and make recommendations to the board about programs, professional
development, curriculum content, and other issues related to ethnic
studies.
   (c) On or before June 30, 2016, the Superintendent shall submit to
the board a plan to fully implement this section that includes, at a
minimum, key actions needed to overcome any challenges foreseen to
implementing this section, time tables, staffing responsibilities,
and budget requirements.
   (d) Beginning the school year following the adoption of the model
curriculum framework pursuant to subdivision (a), each school
district maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall offer to
all otherwise qualified pupils in those grades, as an elective in
the social sciences, a course of study in ethnic studies based on the
model curriculum framework. 
   SEC. 3.    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.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 33500 of the Education Code
is amended to read:
   33500.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following:
   (1) There is further need to encourage the adoption of new or
improved educational ideas, practices, and techniques in solving
critical educational problems in preschool, elementary, and secondary
schools throughout the state. In recognition of the need for the
planning and developing of new programs involving a wide range of new
approaches designed to improve the quality of education available in
this state, this chapter is expressly enacted to foster innovation
and create change in education, based on research and proven need. It
is the purpose of this chapter to bring purposeful change and
experimentation to schools throughout the state, through the use of
all available resources of the state.
   (2) There are in existence a large number of permanent
commissions, committees, and councils, some of which have overlapping
duties and functions, and some of which have been perpetuated in
existence beyond the original need or purpose for which they were
created.
   (b) Therefore, in order to provide a more economical, efficient,
and logical structure to educational policymaking, it is the intent
of the Legislature to create three levels of educational advisory
bodies: educational policy advisory commissions, educational advisory
committees, and educational task forces.