By Beth Meyerhoff, California State PTA Education Advocate

Assembly Bill 1703 (Ramos)

California State PTA supports Assembly Bill 1703 (Ramos). This bill would change California’s education code to encourage school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to establish a California Indian TaskForces with California Tribes local to their region or historically located in their region to discuss and update a high-quality curriculum around Indian education. 

The current curriculum on Native American history may be inaccurate or misleading. By partnering with local California Tribes, schools can ensure that the curriculum educates California students on their local tribes and culture. 

The bill would also require the California Department of Education to submit a report to the education committees of both houses of the legislature regarding narrowing the achievement gap and adoption of the curriculum.

Accurate and culturally relatable California Indian history will help make the school curriculum relevant for Indian students and help all students become informed about their local California Tribes.