Italicized text includes proposed additions to law or the previous version of the bill.
Struck text includes proposed deletions to law or the previous version of the bill.
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AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 20, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 2, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 3, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 12, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 30, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senator Pavley
(Coauthors: Senators Alquist and Romero)
FEBRUARY 26, 2009
An act to
amend Section 51225.3 of add
Section 51225.31 to the Education Code, relating to high school
curriculum.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 520, as amended, Pavley. High school curriculum: community
service.
Existing law sets forth the courses a pupil is required to
complete while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to graduate
from high school and authorizes the governing board of a school
district to specify by rule other required coursework.
This bill would authorize the governing board of a school district
to offer credit, as specified, for hours of community service
provided outside of regular school hours by a pupil, for a maximum of
2 semesters. The bill would require a school district that elects to
offer credit for community service to establish and maintain a list
of suitable community service organizations from which a pupil would
be required to choose to complete the community service hours. The
bill also would require a school district to require the pupil to
submit a report or other academic assignments, as determined by the
district, on the community service experience and would require the
community service organization to verify the hours served by the
pupil.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 51225.31 is added to the
Education Code , to read:
51225.31. The governing board of a school district may elect to
offer credit in an amount that is equivalent to that of a
one-semester elective course in that district for hours of community
service provided outside of regular school hours by a pupil in an
amount that may be equal to or greater than 60 hours per semester, as
determined by the district, for a maximum of any two semesters that
the pupil attends high school. A school district that elects to offer
credit for community service shall establish and maintain a list of
suitable community service organizations, excluding organizations
whose sole purpose is political advocacy, from which a pupil shall
choose to complete the community service hours, shall require a pupil
to submit a report or other academic assignments, as determined by
the district, to a school representative on the community service
experience, and shall require the community service organization to
verify the hours served by the pupil.
SECTION 1. Section 51225.3 of the Education
Code is amended to read:
51225.3. (a) No pupil shall receive a diploma of graduation from
high school who, while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, has not
completed all of the following:
(1) At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects
specified, each course having a duration of one year, unless
otherwise specified.
(A) Three courses in English.
(B) Two courses in mathematics.
(C) Two courses in science, including biological and physical
sciences.
(D) Three courses in social studies, including United States
history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a
one-semester course in American government and civics, and a
one-semester course in economics.
(E) One course in visual or performing arts or foreign language.
For the purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this
subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a
course in foreign language.
(F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been
exempted pursuant to the provisions of this code.
(2) Other coursework as the governing board of the school district
may by rule specify.
(b) The governing board, with the active involvement of parents,
administrators, teachers, and pupils, shall adopt alternative means
for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study which may
include practical demonstration of skills and competencies,
supervised work experience or other outside school experience, career
technical education classes offered in high schools, courses offered
by regional occupational centers or programs, interdisciplinary
study, independent study, and credit earned at a postsecondary
institution. Requirements for graduation and specified alternative
modes for completing the prescribed course of study shall be made
available to pupils, parents, and the public.
(c) The governing board of a school district may elect to offer
credit in an amount that is equivalent to that of a one-semester
elective course in that district for hours of community service
provided outside of regular school hours by a pupil in an amount that
may be equal to or greater than 60 hours per semester, as determined
by the district, for a maximum of any two semesters that the pupil
attends high school. A school district that elects to offer credit
for community service shall establish and maintain a list of suitable
community service organizations, excluding organizations whose sole
purpose is political advocacy, from which a pupil shall choose to
complete the community service hours, shall require a pupil to submit
a report or other academic assignments, as determined by the
district, to a school representative on the community service
experience, and shall require the community service organization to
verify the hours served by the pupil.
