WHEREAS, The state is committed to providing excellent educational opportunities to all of its pupils; and
WHEREAS, There are over 92 languages other than English spoken throughout the state, with the primary languages being Arabic, Armenian, Cantonese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese; and
WHEREAS, Data from multiple sources show a sharp increase in incidents of interethnic and interreligious violence, threats of violence, and other hostile behavior that causes increased anxiety in and outside of classrooms across the United States, including California; and
WHEREAS, Research data from schools in Tucson, Arizona; Oahu, Hawaii; and San Francisco show that high school ethnic studies classes have reduced school violence, reduced the school dropout rate for pupils, raised high school graduation rates, reduced unexcused absences, boosted self-esteem, raised self-efficacy, increased academic engagement, and raised personal empowerment for all pupils; and
WHEREAS, Cities in the region, such as Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Santa Fe, New Mexico, have passed resolutions requiring or offering ethnic studies classes. Numerous school districts in the state, such as El Rancho Unified School District, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District, Woodland Joint Unified School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, Oakland Unified School District, Montebello Unified School District, Coachella Valley Unified School District, Sacramento City Unified School District, and San Diego Unified School District, also have passed resolutions requiring or offering ethnic studies classes; and
WHEREAS, Various organizations have passed a motion supporting teachers’ and pupils’ efforts to have access to an ethnic studies high school graduation requirement; and
WHEREAS, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2016 (Chapter 327 of the Statutes of 2016) into law as Section 51226.7 of the Education Code requiring the Instructional Quality Commission to develop and the State Board of Education to adopt, modify, or revise a model ethnic studies curriculum for high schools; and
WHEREAS, Section 51226.7 of the Education Code also encourages school districts and charter schools serving pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to establish an ethnic studies class; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the state will establish an ethnic studies graduation requirement for all high school pupils; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.