Find Legal Information

51770-51772

EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 51770-51772

51770.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares that despite
various energy conservation measures, energy costs have continued to
increase and will likely increase in the future. The Legislature also
finds and declares that a model comprehensive energy education
program to be made available to pupils enrolled in the public schools
is required in order to acquaint pupils with the limited
availability of energy resources, the need for effective energy
conservation measures, and other issues addressing our future energy
needs.


51771.  (a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall provide
for the development of a model energy education program appropriate
for use by school districts maintaining kindergarten and grades 1 to
12, inclusive. In developing the model program, the superintendent
may utilize or incorporate existing instructional materials in the
area of energy and other available resources, so long as the
superintendent determines that they are reasonably balanced and
objective, or are capable of being used in conjunction with other
materials to establish a reasonably balanced and objective
perspective. The model program, including the review of the
utilization or incorporation of existing instructional materials in
the area of energy and other available resources, shall be developed
in consultation with the California Energy Commission, and shall be
periodically updated to incorporate additional technological changes.
   The model program shall include an accurate, objective assessment
of the nation's current and projected energy supplies and a review of
the nation's progress in the development of alternative energy
resources, with an emphasis on renewable energy sources such as solar
and wind power.
   (b) The model program shall be designed to provide instruction to
pupils regarding all of the following:
   (1) The finite nature of our nation's current basic energy
resources.
   (2) The effects of energy extraction from nonrenewable resources
on the environment.
   (3) An examination of the balance between consumer demands for
energy and the need for energy conservation, as well as the effect of
present energy usage on the energy needs of future generations.
   (4) An examination of policy issues regarding the use of
alternative energy resources, including the weatherization of homes
and businesses, individual and business energy conservation, the
availability of incentives to promote the development of renewable
energy resources, and the cost-effectiveness of various types of
energy production such as fossil fuels, nuclear energy, solar power,
wind power, and geothermal energy.
   (5) An examination of the viability of energy conservation as an
energy resource.



51772.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall make the
model program developed under this article available to each school
district. School districts shall have the option to include the model
program as part of their required or authorized courses of
instruction, but it is the intent of the Legislature that the
Superintendent of Public Instruction shall take any steps necessary
to encourage school districts to provide some form of energy
education instruction.