SB 1048

Existing law establishes the State Seal of Civic Engagement to recognize 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, as provided, and establishes the State Seal of Biliteracy to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. This bill would establish the State Seal of Climate Literacy for the purpose of giving high school pupils personal agency to help them and their communities understand and adapt to the effects of climate change. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on or before July 1, 2027, to recommend to the State Board of Education criteria for awarding a State Seal of Climate Literacy to pupils who have demonstrated mastery in climate literacy disciplines, green skills or technical green skills, as defined, and any and all other best practices for climate literacy. The bill would require the Superintendent, in developing the criteria, to consider including (1) the successful completion of at least 2 approved courses in the area of climate literacy and (2) the successful completion and presentation of a climate literacy final experiential learning project, as provided. The bill would require the Superintendent to also recommend to the state board the criteria necessary to award a State Seal of Climate Literacy with specified distinctions. The bill would require the state board, on or before November 15, 2027, to adopt, or adopt with modifications, the criteria recommended by the Superintendent. The bill would require the Superintendent to, among other things, prepare and deliver to participating local educational agencies an appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript of the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a State Seal of Climate Literacy by the Superintendent. The bill would make a local educational agency’s participation in awarding the State Seal of Climate Literacy voluntary. For a local educational agency that chooses to participate, the bill would require the local educational agency to, among other things, establish a process for determining if a pupil has met the criteria necessary to earn a State Seal of Climate Literacy and on or before September 15, 2028, and on or before September 15 of each year thereafter, provide specified data to the State Department of Education.