American government and civics: curriculum guide: State Seal of Civic Engagement., the official text

An act to add Sections 51225.34 and 51471.5 to the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

(1) Existing law requires a pupil to complete designated coursework while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation from high school. These graduation requirements include, among others, the completion of 3 courses in social studies, including a one-semester course in American government and civics.
Existing law establishes the Instructional Quality Commission and requires the commission to, among other things, recommend curriculum frameworks to the State Board of Education.
This bill, subject to appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, would require the State Department of Education, in collaboration with, and subject to the approval of, the executive director of the state board, to enter into a contract with a county office of education or a consortium of county offices of education for the purpose of developing a curriculum guide for a one-year course in American government and civics, as provided. The bill would require the curriculum guide to include, among other things, fundamentals on federal, state, and local government, as provided, and specified information relating to voting.
(2) Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on or before January 1, 2020, to recommend to the state board criteria for awarding a State Seal of Civic Engagement to pupils who have demonstrated excellence in civics education and participation and have demonstrated an understanding of the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and the democratic system of government. Existing law requires the state board, on or before January 31, 2021, to adopt, reject, or modify the criteria recommended by the Superintendent.
This bill would provide that a pupil’s successful completion of a one-year course in American government and civics satisfies specified criteria adopted by the state board related to the State Seal of Civic Engagement. The bill would require a pupil who has successfully completed a one-year course in American government and civics, in order to receive the State Seal of Civic Engagement, to still satisfy all other criteria adopted by the state board.

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

SECTION 1.
Section 51225.34 is added to the Education Code, to read:
51225.34.
(a)The department shall, in collaboration with, and subject to the approval of, the executive director of the state board, enter into a contract with a county office of education or a consortium of county offices of education for the purpose of developing a curriculum guide for a one-year course in American government and civics.
(b) The curriculum guide developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Fundamentals on the responsibilities of federal departments and agencies.
(2) Fundamentals on California state government institutions, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, along with state agencies and departments.
(3) Fundamentals on local government institutions, including city councils, county boards of supervisors, and other local bodies.
(4) Fundamentals on special districts in California, including their purpose and membership.
(5) Fundamentals on tribal governments in California, including their purpose and membership.
(6) Fundamentals on direct democracy in California, including ballot initiatives, referenda, and the recall process.
(7) How to participate in the decisionmaking of federal, state, local, and special district institutions, including, but not limited to, how to contact representatives, how to attend state and local public meetings, and understanding pathways of influence.
(8) The role of advocacy and interest groups in government decisionmaking.
(9) All of the following relating to voting:
(A) Eligibility for, and requirements relating to, registering to vote.
(B) The various methods for registering to vote, including the ability to preregister to vote.
(C) Acquiring official, nonpartisan election and voter information from county and state elections officials, including, but not limited to, accessing county and state elections internet websites.
(D) Understanding the electoral systems used at the federal, state, and local level.
(E) How to complete and submit a ballot through various methods, including vote by mail and in person at a polling place or vote center.
(F) An individual’s rights as a voter.
(10) Tools for constructive political dialogue, including methods and techniques such as Socratic seminars and structured classroom debates, to teach pupils how to engage in respectful disagreements.
(c) This section shall be implemented only upon appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

SEC. 2.
Section 51471.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:
51471.5.
(a) A pupil’s successful completion of a one-year course in American government and civics shall satisfy the criteria adopted by the state board that a pupil demonstrates a competent understanding of United States and California constitutions; functions and governance of local governments; tribal government structures and organizations; the role of the citizen in a constitutional democracy; and democratic principles, concepts, and processes.
(b) This section shall not prohibit a school district from deeming a pupil’s successful completion of a one-semester course in American government and civics as contributing to satisfying the criteria adopted by the state board pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 51471.
(c) A pupil who successfully completes a one-year course in American government and civics shall still be required to satisfy all other criteria adopted by the state board in order to receive the State Seal of Civic Engagement.