January 30, 2012

Pursuant to Elections Code Section 9005, we have reviewed the proposed statutory initiative
(A.G. File No. 11‑0093, Amdt.#1S) that would change existing requirements regarding the inclusion of certain people and groups in school instruction.

Background

Current law requires social science instruction and materials to include information on the contributions of various groups to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America. Existing law also requires adopted instructional materials to accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of California. To meet the above requirements, social science instruction and adopted instructional materials must include information on men, women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic or cultural groups. Current law also prohibits academic instruction and instructional materials from containing content that reflects adversely upon individuals because of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation.

Proposal

This measure supersedes existing law regarding the inclusion of the contributions of various groups in school curricula and instructional materials. The measure requires that a historical figure studied in a social science course be included in the curriculum based only on the individual’s historical significance and not because of the individual’s disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. The measure also requires that social science instruction include relevant and accurate historical portrayals of the role and contributions of racial and ethnic groups and prohibits the exclusion of a historical figure from social science instruction and instructional materials because of the figure’s disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. School districts are not required to spend additional funding for textbooks or instructional materials as a result of the measure.

Fiscal Effect

The measure specifically states that school districts are not required to spend additional funds to comply with the measure.

Summary of Fiscal Effect:

• This measure would not impose additional costs on school districts.