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 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.