This measure would urge the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.

This measure would urge the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.

This measure would urge the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.

WHEREAS, Californias interest in character education has been progressing since the 1980s, when Senator Albert Rodda initiated a select bipartisan committee on character education, and interest has since been further advanced by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, presidents of the United States, and, more recently, by state legislative and congressional leaders; and

WHEREAS, Section 233.5 of the Education Code authorizes the provisions of character education, and requires each teacher, among other things, to endeavor to promote kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures; and

WHEREAS, Increasingly, the need for kindness toward animals, whether they are pets, farm animals, or creatures in the wild, has come to play a guiding role in the broader movement for a healthy and humane world; and

WHEREAS, All children deserve the privilege of learning about animals, which fosters a sense of caring and is crucial in developing a sense of civic responsibility and a more humane community; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics are essential to developing an inclusive society, restoring public confidence in our institutions, and preparing literate, skilled, and responsible participants in our schools, government, workplaces, and local communities; and

WHEREAS, Character education addresses common virtues and behaviors that support respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, justice, fairness, caring, giving, service, leadership, initiative, and teamwork; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics also relate to the closing of the academic achievement and participation gaps that currently exist between pupils in our public schools; and

WHEREAS, Implementing Californias Common Core academic content standards may be enhanced by character education by increasing commitment to instructional priorities, academic rigor, and discipline, and may improve school performance and provide the opportunity for full citizenship; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics begin with good role models and leadership in our homes, communities, and schools; and

WHEREAS, The character, citizenship, and ethics that are expected in our society and government, and the rights, responsibilities, and participation of citizens should be a continual and meaningful part of character education for every pupil in prekindergarten through grade 12; and

WHEREAS, The importance of character, citizenship, and ethics cannot be overestimated in establishing a positive school climate for pupils, and is the shared responsibility of the entire education community; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature urges the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts, and to the author for distribution.

WHEREAS, Californias interest in character education has been progressing since the 1980s, when Senator Albert Rodda initiated a select bipartisan committee on character education, and interest has since been further advanced by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, presidents of the United States, and, more recently, by state legislative and congressional leaders; and

WHEREAS, Section 233.5 of the Education Code authorizes the provisions of character education, and requires each teacher, among other things, to endeavor to promote kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures; and

WHEREAS, Increasingly, the need for kindness toward animals, whether they are pets, farm animals, or creatures in the wild, has come to play a guiding role in the broader movement for a healthy and humane world; and

WHEREAS, All children deserve the privilege of learning about animals, which fosters a sense of caring and is crucial in developing a sense of civic responsibility and a more humane community; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics are essential to developing an inclusive society, restoring public confidence in our institutions, and preparing literate, skilled, and responsible participants in our schools, government, workplaces, and local communities; and

WHEREAS, Character education addresses common virtues and behaviors that support respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, justice, fairness, caring, giving, service, leadership, initiative, and teamwork; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics also relate to the closing of the academic achievement and participation gaps that currently exist between pupils in our public schools; and

WHEREAS, Implementing Californias Common Core academic content standards may be enhanced by character education by increasing commitment to instructional priorities, academic rigor, and discipline, and may improve school performance and provide the opportunity for full citizenship; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics begin with good role models and leadership in our homes, communities, and schools; and

WHEREAS, The character, citizenship, and ethics that are expected in our society and government, and the rights, responsibilities, and participation of citizens should be a continual and meaningful part of character education for every pupil in prekindergarten through grade 12; and

WHEREAS, The importance of character, citizenship, and ethics cannot be overestimated in establishing a positive school climate for pupils, and is the shared responsibility of the entire education community; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature urges the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts, and to the author for distribution.

WHEREAS, Californias interest in character education has been progressing since the 1980s, when Senator Albert Rodda initiated a select bipartisan committee on character education, and interest has since been further advanced by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, presidents of the United States, and, more recently, by state legislative and congressional leaders; and

WHEREAS, Section 233.5 of the Education Code authorizes the provisions of character education, and requires each teacher, among other things, to endeavor to promote kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures; and

WHEREAS, Increasingly, the need for kindness toward animals, whether they are pets, farm animals, or creatures in the wild, has come to play a guiding role in the broader movement for a healthy and humane world; and

WHEREAS, All children deserve the privilege of learning about animals, which fosters a sense of caring and is crucial in developing a sense of civic responsibility and a more humane community; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics are essential to developing an inclusive society, restoring public confidence in our institutions, and preparing literate, skilled, and responsible participants in our schools, government, workplaces, and local communities; and

WHEREAS, Character education addresses common virtues and behaviors that support respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, justice, fairness, caring, giving, service, leadership, initiative, and teamwork; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics also relate to the closing of the academic achievement and participation gaps that currently exist between pupils in our public schools; and

WHEREAS, Implementing Californias Common Core academic content standards may be enhanced by character education by increasing commitment to instructional priorities, academic rigor, and discipline, and may improve school performance and provide the opportunity for full citizenship; and

WHEREAS, Good character, citizenship, and ethics begin with good role models and leadership in our homes, communities, and schools; and

WHEREAS, The character, citizenship, and ethics that are expected in our society and government, and the rights, responsibilities, and participation of citizens should be a continual and meaningful part of character education for every pupil in prekindergarten through grade 12; and

WHEREAS, The importance of character, citizenship, and ethics cannot be overestimated in establishing a positive school climate for pupils, and is the shared responsibility of the entire education community; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature urges the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts, and to the author for distribution.

 CONSENT  

Bill No: ACR 144

Author:

:

Vote: 21

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 9-0, 6/8/16

AYES: Liu, Block, Hancock, Huff, Leyva, Mendoza, Monning, Pan, Vidak

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-0, 4/25/16 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This resolution urges the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires that each teacher endeavor to impress upon the minds of the students the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures, to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them in manners and morals and the principles of a free government. (Education Code § 233.5)
2. Encourages each teacher to create and foster an environment that encourages students to realize their full potential and that is free from discriminatory attitudes, practices, events, or activities, in order to prevent acts of hate violence. (EC § 233.5)

This resolution urges the State Board of Education (SBE), county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society. Specifically, this resolution:

1. Makes findings as to the legislative interest in and history of character education and the importance of character education to our society and economy, and the links between character, good citizenship, ethics, good leadership, academic achievement and school climate.
2. Resolves that the Legislature urges the SBE, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.
3. Resolves that the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the SBE, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts and to the author for distribution.

Comments

1. Need for this resolution. According to the author, character education programs in schools have a positive effect on children. Character education programs in schools help promote common values and behaviors, such as respect, responsibility, justice, leadership, and teamwork. The author emphasizes, character education programs that incorporate the humane treatment of animals into their education curriculum also encourage good character, citizenships, and ethics.

This resolution promotes the importance of character education in public schools.

1. Character education in public schools. Current law requires each teacher to impress upon pupils the principals of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a comprehension of the rights, duties and dignity of American citizenship and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures. The California Department of Education provides various resources for incorporating character education into a standards-based educational system and further encourages schools to recognize October as Character Education Month.

Related/Prior Legislation

HR 28 (Dababneh, 2016) encourages the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure the incorporation of humane education in the core curriculum, and resolves that compliance with existing law regarding humane education should include educating students on principles of kindness and respect for animals. The resolution was adopted by the Assembly.

ACR 55 (Mullin, Chapter 145, Statutes of 2008) almost identical to this resolution, encouraged the SBE, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to evaluate and increase their emphasis on character, citizenship, and ethics education.

SB 811 (O’Connell, 2002) would have required that the promotion of compassion and respect for both humans and animals be considered in the next cycle in which the science, and history/social science curricula frameworks and the accompanying instructional materials are adopted. The bill was held in the Assembly.

AB 2028 (Correa, 2000) required the SBE to survey and report findings on character education programs implemented by school districts and county offices by January 1, 2002. The bill was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/21/16)

City of Palo Alto

Palo Alto Humane Society

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/21/16)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-0, 4/25/16

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Arambula, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Chang, Olsen, Williams

Prepared by:

6/22/16 15:15:10

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Carol Liu, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular

Bill No: ACR 144

Subject: Public schools: character education

SUMMARY

This measure urges the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Requires that each teacher endeavor to impress upon the minds of the students the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures, to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them in manners and morals and the principles of a free government.

(Education Code § 233.5)

1. Encourages each teacher to create and foster an environment that encourages students to realize their full potential and that is free from discriminatory attitudes, practices, events, or activities, in order to prevent acts of hate violence.

(EC § 233.5)

ANALYSIS

This measure urges the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society. Specifically this measure:

1. Makes findings as to the legislative interest in and history of character education and the importance of character education to our society and economy, and the links between character, good citizenship, ethics, good leadership, academic achievement and school climate.
2. Resolves that the legislature urges the State Board of Education (SBE), county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.
3. Resolves that the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the SBE, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts and to the author for distribution.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for this measure. According to the author, character education programs in schools have a positive effect on children. Character education programs in schools help promote common values and behaviors, such as respect, responsibility, justice, leadership, and teamwork. The author emphasizes, character education programs that incorporate the humane treatment of animals into their education curriculum also encourage good character, citizenships, and ethics.

This measure promotes the importance of character education in public schools.

1. Character education in public schools. Current law requires each teacher to impress upon pupils the principals of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a comprehension of the rights, duties and dignity of American citizenship and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures. The California Department of Education provides various resources for incorporating character education into a standards-based educational system and further encourages schools to recognize October as Character Education Month.
2. Related and prior legislation.

HR 28 (Dababneh, 2016) encourages the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure the incorporation of humane education in the core curriculum, and resolves that compliance with existing law regarding humane education should include educating students on principles of kindness and respect for animals. This measure was adopted by the Assembly.

ACR 55 (Mullin, Chapter 145, Statutes of 2008) almost identical to this resolution, encouraged the SBE, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to evaluate and increase their emphasis on character, citizenship, and ethics education.

SB 811 (O’Connell 2002) would have required that the promotion of compassion and respect for both humans and animals be considered in the next cycle in which the science, and history/social science curricula frameworks and the accompanying instructional materials are adopted. This measure was held in the Assembly.

AB 2028 (Correa, 2000) required the State Board of Education (SBE) to survey and report findings on character education programs implemented by school districts and county offices by January 1, 2002. AB 2028 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SUPPORT

City of Palo Alto

Palo Alto Humane Society

OPPOSITION

None received.

-- END --

Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 144

Author:(Mullin) – As Introduced Ver:February 24, 2016

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This resolution urges the State Board of Education (SBE), county offices of education (COE), and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society. Specifically, this bill:

1. Makes findings and declarations relative to the importance of education in character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures.
2. Resolves that the Legislature urges the SBE, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.
3. Resolves that the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the SBE, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts, and to the author for distribution.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Minor General Fund and Proposition 98/GF cost pressures for the SBE and local education agencies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author, the State of California has demonstrated support for character education since 1980s, when a select bipartisan committee on character education was initiated. Every year, the California State Board of Education adopts a resolution naming the month of October as “Character Education Month.” This resolution builds on existing character education efforts in schools by encouraging the humane treatment of animals along with a greater emphasis on character, citizenship, and ethics.

Analysis Prepared by: Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 13, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Patrick O'Donnell, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 144 (

Author:Mullin) – As Introduced Ver:February 24, 2016

SUBJECT: Public schools: character education

SUMMARY: Resolves that the Legislature urges the State Board of Education (SBE), county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society. Specifically, this bill:

1. Makes findings and declarations relative to the importance of education in character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures.
2. Resolves that the Legislature urges the SBE, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society.
3. Resolves that the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the SBE, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts, and to the author for distribution.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires that each teacher endeavor to impress upon the minds of the pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures, to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them in manners and morals and the principles of a free government.
2. Encourages each teacher to create and foster an environment that encourages pupils to realize their full potential and that is free from discriminatory attitudes, practices, events, or activities, in order to prevent acts of hate violence.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

Need for the resolution. According to the author, “ACR 144 encourages greater emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of animals. Section 233.5 of the California Code of Education requires that educators instill moral and ethical principles in pupils across the state. It also mandates that teachers promote kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures to create a more healthy and humane world.

The State of California has demonstrated support for character education since the 1980s, when a select bipartisan committee on character education was initiated. Every year, the California State Board of Education adopts a resolution naming the month of October as “Character Education Month.”

Humane education. According to the SPCA of Los Angeles, the primary goals of humane education are to decrease both animal cruelty and interpersonal violence. Numerous organizations offer free curriculum materials which may be used by schools and individuals to teach about topics ranging from the prevention of animal cruelty, to animal safety, to careers with animals, among others. Proponents of humane education note the well-established association between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence in adulthood.

To ensure that state-adopted instructional materials are in compliance with state law regarding humane education, the CDE and local educational agencies use a document titled “Standards for Evaluating Instructional Materials for Social Content,” adopted by the SBE in 2013. This document guides evaluators in ensuring compliance with various requirements for curriculum in statute and SBE policy as they review instructional materials for state and local adoption. Reflecting existing law regarding humane education in instructional materials, this document states: “Humane treatment of people and animals should be encouraged through illustrations and text.”

Related legislation. HR 28 (Dababneh) of this Session encourages the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure the incorporation of humane education in the core curriculum, and resolves that compliance with existing law regarding humane education should include educating students on principles of kindness and respect for animals.

AB 2028 (Correa) of the 1999-2000 Session, required the SBE to survey and report findings on character education programs implemented by school districts and county offices by January 1, 2002. AB 2028 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

ACR 55 (Mullin) of the 2007-08 Session encouraged the SBE, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to evaluate and increase their emphasis on character, citizenship, and ethics education. ACR 55 was chaptered by the Secretary of State.

SB 811 (O’Connell) of the 2001-02 Session, would have required that the promotion of compassion and respect for both humans and animals be considered in the next cycle in which the science, and history/social science curricula frameworks and the accompanying instructional materials are adopted. This measure was held in the Assembly and not heard in this Committee.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

City of Palo Alto

Palo Alto Humane Society

An individual

Opposition

None received

Analysis Prepared by: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087