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<ns0:Id>20250SB__104899INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-12</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Becker</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_ORIGINATING">(Coauthor: Senator Gonzalez)</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_OPPOSITE">(Coauthor: Assembly Member Garcia)</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Becker</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
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<ns0:Name>Gonzalez</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Garcia</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 51480) to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>pupil instruction</ns0:RelatingClause>
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<ns0:Subject>State Seal of Climate Literacy.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>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.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would establish the State Seal of Climate Literacy to recognize high school graduates who have demonstrated mastery in climate literacy disciplines and have attained green skills or technical green skills, as defined. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction 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 (1) award a State Seal of Climate Literacy to a pupil that successfully completes at least 2 courses in the area of climate literacy and a climate literacy final experiential learning project that focuses on the effects of climate change in the pupil’s local community, as provided, (2) maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who have earned a State Seal of Climate Literacy, and (3) on or before July 1, 2027, and on or before July 1 of each year thereafter, provide specified data to the State Department of Education. The bill would require the
department, on or before October 1, 2027, and on or before October 1 of each year thereafter, to submit a report to the Legislature with the data collected by participating local educational agencies.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Article 8 (commencing with Section 51480) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
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, to read:
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<ns0:Num>8.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>State Seal of Climate Literacy</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>51480.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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The State Seal of Climate Literacy is established to recognize high school graduates who have demonstrated mastery in climate literacy disciplines and have attained green skills or technical green skills. The purpose of the State Seal of Climate Literacy is to give high school pupils personal agency to help the pupil and the pupil’s communities understand and adapt to the effects of climate change.
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(b)
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A local educational agency’s participation in awarding the State Seal of Climate Literacy to pupils under this article is voluntary.
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<ns0:Num>51481.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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A participating local educational agency shall award a State Seal of Climate Literacy to a pupil that meets both of the following criteria:
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(1)
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Successful completion of at least two approved courses in the area of climate literacy. A participating local educational agency shall create, maintain, and share with pupils a list of approved courses that pupils may complete to satisfy this requirement. Approved courses may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
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<html:p>
(A)
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High-school-level or advanced placement courses that cover physical science, life science, or earth science.
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<html:p>
(B)
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Dual or concurrent
enrollment, career technical education, or high-school-level courses that integrate climate literacy.
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<html:p>
(C)
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Courses that integrate the state’s environmental principles and concepts or courses that integrate the Seeds to Solutions curriculum developed pursuant to Section 71301 of the Public Resources Code.
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<html:p>
(2)
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(A)
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Successful completion of a climate literacy final experiential learning project that focuses on the effects of climate change in the pupil’s local community and demonstrates an academic understanding of climate literacy through the practical application of climate literacy that addresses local climate issues present in the pupil’s community. The pupil shall present the final project to an individual or group that is identified and selected by the pupil and the local educational agency or climate literacy experiential learning provider. Final projects
may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
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<html:p>
(i)
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A capstone project centered on the pupil’s community and the community’s effect on climate change.
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<html:p>
(ii)
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Field experiences or practica related to the coursework described in paragraph (1).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(iii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Internships, externships, or employment with climate literacy experiential learning providers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(iv)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
One or more community projects with a climate literacy experiential learning provider.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(v)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Hands-on laboratory experiments.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(vi)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Original artwork or writing.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(vii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Pupil-led and designed programming that has an
effect on the pupil’s community and other pupils.
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<html:p>
(B)
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A participating local educational agency shall approve a pupil’s final project proposal or authorize a climate literacy experiential learning provider to facilitate, support, and approve a pupil’s final project proposal before the pupil begins the final project.
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<html:p>
(b)
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A participating local educational agency may also award to a pupil that meets the requirements for the State Seal of Climate Literacy one or both of the following distinctions:
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<html:p>
(1)
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A State Seal of Climate Literacy with Industry Distinction may be earned by a pupil that demonstrates proficiency in technical green skills through coursework or the pupil’s final experiential learning project. To identify the technical green skills needed for a climate-impacted or green career, a participating local
educational agency is encouraged to collaborate with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and industry leaders.
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<html:p>
(2)
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A State Seal of Climate Literacy with Higher Education Distinction may be earned by a pupil that earns college credit in attaining the Seal of Climate Literacy.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_9779263D-EDCD-4E63-B9F5-330E3183406F">
<ns0:Num>51482.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The Superintendent shall do both of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
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.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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The Superintendent may partner with relevant entities to determine the best design for the insignia described in paragraph (1) and the fulfillment of the insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript.
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<html:p>
(b)
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Provide other information it deems necessary for local educational agencies to successfully participate in
awarding the State Seal of Climate Literacy to pupils.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_86F8263B-E093-4CB7-9461-3D32825A57E9">
<ns0:Num>51483.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>A participating local educational agency shall do all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
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Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who have earned a State Seal of Climate Literacy.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript of each pupil who earns a State Seal of Climate Literacy.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
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On or before July 1, 2027, and on or before July 1 of each year thereafter, provide all of the following data to the department:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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The names of schools that awarded the State Seal of Climate Literacy.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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The number of pupils from each school of the local educational agency that received a State Seal of Climate Literacy.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
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The types of final projects described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 51481 that pupils completed.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The names of climate literacy experiential learning providers that approved, supported, and facilitated pupils’ final projects, if applicable.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A list of approved courses pupils completed to earn the State Seal of Climate Literacy.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_DC821D7D-FB57-4E3D-A743-70F3347945F1">
<ns0:Num>51484.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_31AAF647-DB91-4CD3-B739-64B727C9E6F9">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, on or before October 1, 2027, and on or before October 1 of each year thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, with a summary of the data the department receives pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 51483.</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_21773DBB-6619-4DDD-9203-BA9D017C8886">
<ns0:Num>51485.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>For purposes of this article, all of the following definitions apply:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Climate literacy” means an understanding of the essential principles of the earth’s climate system, assessing scientifically credible climate information, learning to communicate about the climate in a meaningful manner, and making informed and responsible decisions regarding actions that may affect the climate.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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“Climate literacy experiential learning provider” means a provider that facilitates a pupil’s final project, including, but not limited to, a school organization or club, local media outlet, business, nonprofit organization, or industry focused on green skills or technical green skills.
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<html:p>
(c)
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“Green jobs” means occupations or employment positions that reduce harmful effects on the climate, adapt processes to minimize their effect on the climate, recognize and mitigate the disproportionate social effects of climate change, support the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of communities, or contribute to the well-being and resilience of present and future generations.
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(d)
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“Green skills” means the knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes to live in, develop, and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.
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<html:p>
(e)
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“Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
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(f)
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“Technical green skills” means skills that fulfill the requirements of green jobs and that support the
transition to a low-carbon sustainable economy.
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