American government and civics: curriculum guide: State Seal of Civic Engagement.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify all details about how the curriculum guide will be used to earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement, leaving some uncertainty in these areas.

State Seal of Civic Engagement: Curriculum Guide for Government and Civics

This law requires schools to create a curriculum guide for an American government and civics course, which can help students earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement if they complete it successfully.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the California Department of Education to work with county offices or groups of county offices to make a curriculum guide for a one-year American government and civics class.
• The curriculum guide must cover basic information about federal, state, and local governments as well as details on voting.

Who It Names or Affects

• High school students in grades 9 to 12 who want to earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement.
• School districts participating in the program that will develop and use the curriculum guide.

Terms To Know

State Seal of Civic Engagement

An award given to high school students who show excellence in civics education and participation, understanding of government systems, and other criteria set by the state board.

Curriculum guide

A document that outlines what should be taught in a specific course or subject area.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill needs funding from the Legislature to start.
• School districts still have to choose whether they want to use this program and follow its rules.

Official Summary Text

SB 745, as amended, Ochoa Bogh.
American government and civics: curriculum guide: State Seal of Civic Engagement.
(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.
Existing law requires a school district
electing to participate in the program to, among other things, maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who have earned a State Seal of Civic Engagement.
This bill would
require a school district participating in the program to deem
provide that
a pupil’s successful completion of a one-year course in American government and civics
as satisfying
satisfies
specified criteria adopted by the state
board.
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.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF