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Inventory of the California State Assembly Education Committee Records
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Title: California State Assembly Education Committee Records
Dates: 1849-2014
Collection number: See series descriptions for LP numbers.
Creator:
Legislature -- Assembly -- Education Committee
Assembly Education Committee, 1849-present
Apportionment of School Funds Subcommittee, 1955-1961
Library Problems Subcommittee, 1955-1957
Public School Construction Costs Subcommittee, 1955-1959
School District Tax and Bonded Indebtedness Subcommittee, 1955-1959
State Colleges Subcommittee, 1955-1956
Teacher Tenure and Retirement Subcommittee, 1955-1956
Textbooks Subcommittee, 1955-1956
Scholarships Subcommittee, 1956-1958
School Apportionment Subcommittee, 1956-1957
Severely Mentally Retarded Subcommittee, 1956-1957
Higher Education Subcommittee, 1957-1975, 1985-1990
Institutional Education Subcommittee, 1957-1959
Issuance of Degrees Subcommittee, 1957-1958
Extension and Restriction of Tenure Subcommittee, 1958-1959
Scholarship Programs and Student Activities Subcommittee, 1958
Adult Education Subcommittee, 1959-1963
Aviation Education Subcommittee, 1959-1961
County Superintendent of Schools Subcommittee, 1959
Guidance Schools and School Construction Costs Subcommittee, 1959
State Teachers’ Retirement System Subcommittee, 1959
Finance/School Finance Subcommittee, 1961-1974
Special Education Subcommittee, 1961-1967
Personnel/Personnel Problems Subcommittee, 1963-1965
Research, Structure and Function Subcommittee, 1963-1965
School Curriculum and Pupil Achievement Subcommittee, 1965-1967
School Efficiency and Economy Subcommittee, 1965-1967
School Personnel and Teacher Qualifications Subcommittee, 1965-1967
Educational Environment Subcommittee, 1969-1970
Instruction and Teacher Relations Subcommittee, 1969-1970
Organization and Administration Subcommittee, 1969-1970
Vocational and Technical Training Subcommittee, 1969-1970
Administration and Personnel Subcommittee, 1971
Curriculum Subcommittee, 1971
Postsecondary Education Subcommittee, 1975-1984
Educational Reform Subcommittee, 1976-1990
Adult and Vocational Education Subcommittee, Ad Hoc, 1977
Special Subcommittee on Bilingual/Bicultural Education, Ad Hoc, 1975-1978
Select Committee on Implementation of Career Education, 1973-1976
Joint Committee on Higher Education, 1965-1970
Joint Committee on Teacher Licensing, 1969
Joint Committee on Health Science Education, 1973-1976
Collection Size:
156.5 cubic feet including textual, audio-visual, and photographic materials.
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The records of the Assembly Committee on Education and its numerous subcommittees contain a total of 156.5 cubic feet of textual,
audiovisual, and photographic material. The collection is organized with the records of the standing committee first, followed
alphabetically by the subcommittees.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], Assembly Education Committee Records, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office
of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The State Archives received these records in accordance with California Government Code 9080(b) which requires legislative
committees to transfer their records to the State Archives when they are no longer needed by the committee.
The California State Archives received the records of the Assembly Education Committee over a number of years and archives
staff arranged them at various times. While the physical arrangement of the records reflects this variety, this inventory
describes all of the records according to present archival descriptive standards for legislative committee records. Therefore,
the physical arrangement of these records does not necessarily follow the inventory’s order.
The researcher should note that the Archives did not receive records for many of the years of the committee’s existence.
As the finding aid is meant to be a guide to using the records we do hold, the Committee History and Scope and Content sections
may be incomplete; further research is encouraged.
The history of the Assembly Education Committee dates to the first legislative session of 1849, thus predating California's
admission into the Union. On Tuesday, December 18, 1849, the ninth standing committee of the House to be created was that
of Education (1849 Assembly Journal, page 580). It appears that the primary purview of this committee was that of public schools.
While the new legislature set about establishing a new government, California officially became the 31st state of the United
States of America on September 9, 1850. By 1875, the legislative scope of the committee included "the State Normal School,
the State Board of Education, Agriculture, Mining and Mechanics' Art College, and the State University" (1875 Assembly Journal,
page 45).
While the records and sources prior to the mid-twentieth century are incomplete, the jurisdiction of the Assembly Standing
Committee on Education seems to have changed little in the 160 years of its existence, while the name has not changed at all.
By 1995, the jurisdiction of the standing committee had expanded into several specific areas: "adult education, certified
employees of schools and teacher salaries, charter schools, leasing of school property, K-12 education, pupil records, school
buses and crossing guards, and school facilities and finance" (1995-1996 Assembly Journal, page 4937). As of 2010, the Assembly
Education Committee remained relatively unaltered: "education generally, certificated employees of schools, school finance,
and school facilities" (Assembly Education Committee webpage, 9/2010).
When the Legislature was in need of specific information on an educational topic, it often created an Interim Committee by
House Resolution. These committees were created near the end of each session, though they were not necessarily active during
every interim. The interim committees also had only a limited timeframe within which to operate. In 1948, House Resolution
74 created the Interim Committee on Public Education, though in 1951 the interim committee would acquire the same name as
its standing committee counterpart (HR197, 1951). Between 1948 and 1972, the interim committee performed many, if not all,
hearings within a given legislative session. Since 1973 there has been no interim recess period. From 1951 to 1975, subcommittees
also performed extensive work for education.
The most significant subcommittee is that of Higher Education, first created by HR280 in 1957. Its purpose was to study "the
needs of educational facilities, sites, and curriculum for higher education beyond the 12th grade" (1957 Assembly Journal,
page 6536). During this early period, the subcommittee was primarily engaged with studying the development and administration
of state and junior colleges, tuition, and the development of a Master Plan for Higher Education. From 1976 to 1984, this
subcommittee had the name of Postsecondary Education, and in 1977 it held a hearing regarding the Bakke Decision. In Regents
of the University of California v. Allan Bakke, the United States Supreme Court held that while affirmative action systems
are constitutional, a quota system based on race is not. In 1985, the original subcommittee name was reinstated. For the
next five years, under the chairmanship of Tom Hayden, the subcommittee delved into the social and structural challenges facing
both college students and the institutions themselves. In 1991, this subcommittee became the Standing Committee on Higher
Education. The jurisdiction of the standing committee concerned: "academic research partnerships with the private sector,
community college job training programs, postsecondary education, financial aid and campuses." (1995-1996 Assembly Journal,
page 4938)
Another noteworthy subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Educational Reform, was created January 19, 1976, by Assembly Speaker
Leo T. McCarthy and remained active during most legislative sessions through 1990. The subcommittee focused on the administrative
aspects of institutional improvements, the feasibility of introducing reforms rather than public popularity.
The researcher should be aware of the somewhat fluid nature of special, select, joint, ad hoc, and subcommittees related to
education. For example, the subcommittee on Higher Education coexisted with a Joint Committee on Higher Education in 1969
and would become a standing committee in 1991. Additionally, there have existed numerous committees, commissions, boards,
agencies, etc. which have related or overlapping jurisdictions as the Assembly Education Committee.
For a complete list of standing committee chairs, please see Appendix A in Additional Information.
The records of the Assembly Committee on Education and its numerous subcommittees contain a total of 156.5 cubic feet of textual,
audiovisual, and photographic material. The subcommittees of most significance are that of Educational Reform and Higher
Education; thus, they are the only ones mentioned within this descriptive section.
The standing committee records make up 112.5 cubic feet of the total collection. The series found within the standing committee
records include Bill Files (1971-2014), Hearing Files (1952-2010), Subject Files (1968-1980), Consultant’s Legislative Files
(1969-1974), Reports (1850-1986), and Committee Administrative Files (2009-2010).
The Bill Files document the legislative bills directed to the Committee on Education. Notable legislation considered by the
standing committee in recent years includes AB2310 (Firestone, 1995-1996) Bilingual Education; AB222 (Kuehl, 1999-2000) The
Dignity for All Students Act; and SB740 (O’Connell, 2001-2003) Charter schools. Other significant legislation includes AB746
(2011-2012), and AB1993 (2013-2014) Bullying; AB2242 (2011-2012), SB919 (2011-2012), and AB256 (2013-2014) Suspension; AB351
(2009-2010) Exemption from Physical Education; AB245 (2011-2012) Child Care; SB173 (2013-2014) Adult Education; AB1915 (2013-2014)
and SB1380 (2013-2014) Teaching of Armenian Genocide; SB48 (2011-2012) Teaching of Homosexuality; AB2307 (2013-2014) and AB2319
(2013-2014) Common Core; SB993 (2011-2012) School Instruction on Bracero Program; AB199 (2011-2012) School Instruction on
Filipino Contributions during World War II; AB588 (2013-2014) and AB2127 (2013-2014) Athlete Concussion. This variety of
topics reflects the broad reach and scope of the Assembly Education Committee.
The Hearing Files pertain to the standing committee’s investigation of certain topics. Since 1952, the hearings of the standing
committee have reflected a balance between social and administrative issues. Notable Hearing Files include Education Data
(9/3/2009); American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Race to the Top (9/29/2009); Informational Hearing Race to the Top Competitive
Grant Program (10/28/2009); Career Fairs (2/1/2010); Education Finance (8/25/2010); Charter Schools (11/16/2010).
The Subject Files contain information on a variety of topics relevant to the committee. The files often include additional
information on an existing bill or hearing file, material related to proposed legislation, or documents related to committee
administration. These files deal with a multitude of topics including Bilingual Education, Collective Bargaining, Community
Colleges, Early Childhood Education (ECE), Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Finance, Los Angeles Schools, Preschool
Programs, Regional Occupational Centers, R.I.S.E., Special Education, Statewide Testing, University of California, Venereal
Disease Education, and Year-Round Schools.
The Reports document the committee's findings on various topics of study referred to them. The files from 1850-1883 primarily
concern public schools, while the reports from 1947-1978 constitute the bulk of the files and relate to topics such as Veterans
Tax Exemptions, Communist Front Organizations, Elementary Textbooks, Educational Vouchers, and Reorganization of the Education
Code. The Consultant's Legislative Files pertain to select bills prepared and developed by the standing committee's staff.
The Committee Administrative Files contain information on Roll Call Forms of various bills relevant to the committee.
The records of the Subcommittee on Educational Reform include 7 cubic feet of records and contain Bill Files (1979-1988),
Hearing Files (1976-1989), Reports (1979), Subject Files (1985), and Committee Reports (1985-1988). The bill files document
the legislation directed to the subcommittee. The hearing files pertain to the subcommittee's investigation of such topics
as bilingual teachers, vocational education, and school construction. The Report file pertains to school counseling. The
subject file relates to the California Teacher's Association. The committee reports chronicle the meetings where the subcommittee
considered bills referred to them. Throughout all of the series, the most significant topics are special education, school
finance, and vocational education. In the 1985-1986 session, the matter of increasing the age for kindergarten enrollment
(AB2569, O'Connell) was of greatest concern, with information on this bill found in the bill, hearing, and committee reports
series.
The records of the Subcommittee on Higher Education include 29 cubic feet of records and contains Bill Files (1985-1990),
Hearing Files (1957-1966, 1985-1990), Working Papers (1971), AIDS Files (1985-1990), Expansion of Public Postsecondary Education
(EPE) Files (1986-1990), Master Plan (MP) Files (1985-1990), Nuclear Laboratories Oversight (NLO) Files (1985-1990), and Subject
Files (1985-1990).
The Bill Files created by the Subcommittee on Higher Education document the legislation directed to the subcommittee. Significant
topics include The Master Plan for Higher Education (AB462, 1989-1990) and Public Postsecondary Education Transfer Functions
(SB507, 1989-1990). The Hearing Files pertain to the subcommittee's investigation of such topics as tuition, facilities expansion
among all three segments, AIDS, the CSU system, the UC system, the Master Plan, minorities, student retention, teacher retention,
and admissions policy. The Working Papers document the rules, minutes, and reports of the committee. The AIDS Files pertain
to the issues and hearings surrounding the UC system and this frightening new disease. The Expansion of Public Postsecondary
Education (EPE) Files pertain to the issues surrounding the future of California's higher education facilities. The Master
Plan (MP) Files pertain to the review of the Master Plan for Higher Education (mandated by the Education Code to occur at
10-year intervals). The Nuclear Laboratories Oversight (NLO) Files document the complex relationship between the Subcommittee
on Higher Education, the University of California (UC) system, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Lawrence Livermore
and Los Alamos National Laboratories (LLNL and LANL). The Subject Files contain information on a variety of topics relevant
to the committee, the chairman, and the area of education in general. The subjects may be additional information on an existing
bill or hearing file, material related to proposed legislation, material of special interest to the chairman, or documents
related to committee administration. This large series covers a multitude of topics, with much overlap.
The remaining 8 cubic feet of the collection originated from the assorted subcommittees from which the State Archives received
records. The subcommittee files focus on specific educational issues and contain series such as Working Papers, Reports,
and, primarily, Hearing Files. Researchers should be aware that the State Archives has not received records for many other
subcommittees which have also existed.
The researcher should note that the records contain extensive topical overlap. When seeking information about a specific
subject, checking for relevance in all series of the standing committee as well as those of various subcommittees is highly
recommended.
It is anticipated that the Archives will receive further records from the Assembly Education Committee. Researchers should
check the accession binders in the Archives Reference Room as well as the State Archive on-line catalog Minerva for recently
received, unprocessed records.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
California State Assembly Education Committee
Education
Safety
School districts Finance
Related Collections at the California State Archives
Assembly Higher Education Committee, 1975-2008
Commission on the Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education
Hughes, Teresa P. (Democrat), 1983-1990
Goldberg, Jackie (Democrat), 2002-2006
Greene, Leroy F. (Democrat), 1967-1968, 1971-1982
Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education, 1970-1975, 1985-1990, 1999-2004
Postsecondary Education Commission, 1965-2003
Senate Education Committee, 1852-2008
Oral Histories of Committee Chairs
Greene, Leroy F., Oral History Interview, 1999, Conducted by Donald B. Seney, Center for California Studies, California State
University, Sacramento, for the California State Government Oral History Program
Veysey, Victor V., Oral History Interview, 1988, Conducted by Enid Hart Douglass, Oral History Program, Claremont Graduate
School, for the California State Government Oral History Program
Strom-Martin, Virginia, Oral History Interview, 2003, Conducted by Patrick Ettinger, Department of History, California State
University, Sacramento, for the California State Government Oral History Program