Pupil instruction: State Seal of Civic Engagement Resource Lead.

Existing law requires, on or before January 1, 2020, the Superintendent of Public Instruction to recommend to the State Board of Education criteria for awarding a State Seal of Civic Engagement to pupils who have demonstrated excellence in civics education and participation and have demonstrated an understanding of the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and the democratic system of government. This bill would establish the State Seal of Civic Engagement Resource Lead for the purpose of providing support and technical assistance to local educational agencies to improve equitable statewide access to the State Seal of Civic Engagement. The bill would, on or before July 1, 2024, require the Superintendent, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, to select a partnership, consisting of an applicant county office of education and a community organization, to administer the State Seal of Civic Engagement Resource Lead, as provided. The bill would require the State Seal of Civic Engagement Resource Lead to, among other duties, coordinate support, provide technical assistance, and deliver professional learning to improve equitable statewide access to the State Seal of Civic Engagement, research and publish best practices in the civic engagement of underserved pupil populations, as provided, and sponsor and promote civic engagement practicums to expand the breadth of support from local educational agencies and community partners for pupils pursuing the State Seal of Civic Engagement, as provided. The bill would require the State Seal of Civic Engagement Resource Lead to submit a report to the State Department of Education by January 1, 2027, that makes findings and recommendations related to evidence-based strategies to provide equitable pupil access to the State Seal of Civic Engagement throughout a local educational agency. The bill would require the department to submit this report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, as provided. The bill would make the implementation of these provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes.