Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires high school students to complete ethnic studies courses to graduate.

Highlights:

• Requires high schools to offer and make an ethics studies course a graduation requirement for all students beginning in the academic year 2025-26 (Sec. 1).

• Requires all students to take at least one semester course in ethnic studies that is based on a model curriculum that meets the A-G requirement (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that the course will be a locally developed ethnic studies course approved by the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school. The proposed course will first be presented at a public meeting of the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school, and shall not be approved until a subsequent public meeting of the governing board or governing body. opportunity to express its views on the proposed course (Sec. 2).

• Requires that a person complete all of the following while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to receive a diploma of graduation from high school. At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects specified, each course having a duration of one (Sec. 2):

• 3 courses in English;

• 2 courses in mathematics;

• 2 courses in science, including biological and physical sciences;

• 3 courses in social studies, including United States history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a one-semester course in American; and

• One course in visual or performing arts, world language, or, commencing with the 2012–13 school year, career technical education. 

• Prohibits a course that does not use ethnic studies content as the primary content through which the subject is taught from being used to satisfy the requirement of clause (Sec. 2).

• Requires the curriculum, instruction, and instructional materials for the course to meet all of the following requirements (Sec. 2):

• Be appropriate for use with people of all races, religions, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, pupils with disabilities, and English learners; 

• Not reflect or promote, directly or indirectly, any bias, bigotry, or discrimination against any person or group of persons based on any category protected by Section 220; and

• Not teach or promote religious doctrine.

• Establishes on or before December 31, 2020, the Instructional Quality Commission will submit the model curriculum to the state board for adoption, and the state board shall adopt the model curriculum on or before March 31, 2021 (Sec. 3).

• Establishes the Instructional Quality Commission will provide a minimum of 45 days for public comment before submitting the model curriculum to the state board (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires high school students to complete ethnic studies courses to graduate.

Highlights:

• Requires high schools to offer and make an ethics studies course a graduation requirement for all students beginning in the academic year 2025-26 (Sec. 1).

• Requires all students to take at least one semester course in ethnic studies that is based on a model curriculum that meets the A-G requirement (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that the course will be a locally developed ethnic studies course approved by the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school. The proposed course will first be presented at a public meeting of the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school, and shall not be approved until a subsequent public meeting of the governing board or governing body. opportunity to express its views on the proposed course (Sec. 2).

• Requires that a person complete all of the following while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to receive a diploma of graduation from high school. At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects specified, each course having a duration of one (Sec. 2):

• 3 courses in English;

• 2 courses in mathematics;

• 2 courses in science, including biological and physical sciences;

• 3 courses in social studies, including United States history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a one-semester course in American; and

• One course in visual or performing arts, world language, or, commencing with the 2012–13 school year, career technical education. 

• Prohibits a course that does not use ethnic studies content as the primary content through which the subject is taught from being used to satisfy the requirement of clause (Sec. 2).

• Requires the curriculum, instruction, and instructional materials for the course to meet all of the following requirements (Sec. 2):

• Be appropriate for use with people of all races, religions, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, pupils with disabilities, and English learners; 

• Not reflect or promote, directly or indirectly, any bias, bigotry, or discrimination against any person or group of persons based on any category protected by Section 220; and

• Not teach or promote religious doctrine.

• Establishes on or before December 31, 2020, the Instructional Quality Commission will submit the model curriculum to the state board for adoption, and the state board shall adopt the model curriculum on or before March 31, 2021 (Sec. 3).

• Establishes the Instructional Quality Commission will provide a minimum of 45 days for public comment before submitting the model curriculum to the state board (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text