ARTICLE 2. Course of Study, Grades 1 to 6 [51210. - 51212.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 2.

in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51210. Section 51210.

(a) The adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, shall include instruction, beginning in grade 1 and continuing through grade 6, in the following areas of study: (1) English, including knowledge of, and appreciation for, literature and the language, as well as the skills of speaking, reading, listening, spelling, handwriting, including instruction in cursive or joined italics in the appropriate grade levels, and composition. (2) Mathematics, including concepts, operational skills, and problem solving. (3) Social sciences, drawing upon the disciplines of anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the pupils. Instruction shall provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America; the development of the American economic system, including the role of the entrepreneur and labor; the relations of persons to their human and natural environment; eastern and western cultures and civilizations; contemporary issues; the wise use of natural resources; and the Spanish colonization of California and the Gold Rush Era, including the treatment and perspectives of Native Americans during those periods. (4) Science, including the biological and physical aspects, with emphasis on the processes of experimental inquiry, on the place of humans in ecological systems, on the causes and effects of climate change, and on the methods to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Appropriate coursework including material on the causes and effects of climate change and methods to mitigate and adapt to climate change shall be offered to pupils as soon as possible, commencing no later than the 2024–25 school year. (5) Visual and performing arts, including instruction in the subjects of dance, music, theater, and visual arts, aimed at the development of aesthetic appreciation and the skills of creative expression. (6) Health, including instruction in the principles and practices of individual, family, and community health. (7) Physical education, with emphasis upon the physical activities for the pupils that may be conducive to health and vigor of body and mind, for a total period of time of not less than 200 minutes each 10 schooldays, excluding recesses and the lunch period, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 51222. (8) Other studies that the governing board may prescribe. (b) (1) A complaint that a school district or county superintendent of schools has not complied with the instructional minute requirements of paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) may be filed with a school district or county superintendent of schools pursuant to the Uniform Complaint Procedures set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. (2) A complainant not satisfied with the decision of a school district or county superintendent of schools may appeal the decision to the department pursuant to Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations and shall receive a written appeal decision within 60 days of the department’s receipt of the appeal. (3) If a school district or county superintendent of schools finds merit in a complaint, or the Superintendent finds merit in an appeal, the school district or county superintendent of schools shall provide a remedy to all affected pupils, parents, and guardians. (c) The Legislature finds and declares that neither the original provisions of this section, nor any subsequent amendments to it, were intended to create a private right of action. However, nothing in this subdivision shall restrict or expand the existing right of any party to seek relief from noncompliance with this section pursuant to a writ of mandate.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51210.1. Section 51210.1.

(a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (A) The Education Code currently mandates 200 minutes of physical education every 10 schooldays for pupils in elementary school. Recent studies have shown that the vast majority of children and youth are not physically fit. (B) According to a March 1997 report by the Centers for Disease Control, the percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight has more than doubled in the last 30 years. Most of this increase occurred within the last 10 years. (C) Nearly 40 percent of children of ages five to eight years have health conditions that significantly increase their risk of early heart disease. (D) Some 70 percent of girls, and 40 percent of boys, who are from 6 to 12 years of age do not have enough muscle strength to do more than one pullup. (E) Most children lead inactive lives. On the average, first through fourth graders spend two hours watching television on schooldays and spend close to three and one-half hours watching television on weekend days. (2) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature that all children shall have access to a high-quality, comprehensive, and developmentally appropriate physical education program on a regular basis. (b) (1) Each school district selected by the Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to paragraph (2) shall report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Coordinated Compliance Review as to the extent of its compliance with subdivision (g) of Section 51210 for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, during that school year. (2) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall select not less than 10 percent of the school districts of the state to report compliance with the provisions set forth in paragraph (1). The school districts selected shall provide a random and accurate sampling of the state as a whole. (c) For purposes of determining compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b), the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall not count the time spent in recesses and the lunch period. (d) A school district that fails to comply with the existing statutory requirements shall issue a corrective action plan to the State Department of Education in accordance with the Coordinated Compliance Review process. (e) This section shall not be applicable to high schools.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51210.2. Section 51210.2.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the physical fitness and motor development of children in the public elementary schools is of equal importance to that of other elements of the curriculum. (b) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to encourage each school district maintaining an elementary school composed of any of grades 1 to 6, inclusive, to do one of the following: (1) Employ a credentialed physical education teacher to provide instruction in physical education for each class of grades 1 to 6, inclusive, within any elementary school in the district for a total period of time of not less than 200 minutes each 10 schooldays, exclusive of recesses and the lunch period. (2) Provide each teacher providing instruction in physical education to any of grades 1 to 6, inclusive, within any elementary school in the district with yearly theoretical practical training in developmental physical education, as set forth in the Physical Education Framework adopted by the State Department of Education pursuant to Section 33350, except that any teacher who has successfully completed one college level course in elementary physical education shall not be subject to this paragraph.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51210.3. Section 51210.3.

(a) The governing board of a school district may designate a credentialed teacher at each elementary school as a science coach, or provide staff development to teachers, in order to accomplish the objectives described in subdivision (b), as determined by the governing board. (b) The designated teacher shall do all of the following: (1) Develop, coordinate, and provide instruction in a science curriculum that incorporates experimentation. The curriculum shall be aligned to the California standards for investigation and experimentation, and be designed to develop all of the following: (A) Understanding of basic scientific facts and principles. (B) Mathematics skills. (C) Reading comprehension. (D) Analytical and intellectual skills required to pose and answer questions. (2) Act as a coach for other teachers at the school in the provision of a science curriculum based on experimentation. (c) This section does not preclude the assignment of duties to a science coach that are not listed in subdivision (b) and relate to developing, coordinating, and providing instruction in a science curriculum that incorporates experimentation.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51210.4. Section 51210.4.

The State Department of Education shall incorporate nutrition education curriculum content into the health curriculum framework at its next revision. This curriculum shall focus on pupils’ eating behaviors, be based on theories and methods proven effective by published research. Nutrition education shall be designed to help pupils learn all of the following: (a) Nutritional knowledge, including but not limited to, the benefits of healthy eating, essential nutrients, nutritional deficiencies, principles of healthy weight management, the use and misuse of dietary supplements, and safe food preparation, handling, and storage. (b) Nutrition-related skills, including, but not limited to, planning a healthy meal, understanding and using food labels, and critically evaluating nutrition information, misinformation, and commercial food advertising. (c) How to assess their own personal eating habits, set goals for improvement, and achieve those goals by using the Food Guide Pyramid, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Nutrition Fact Labels, and the Physical Activity Pyramid.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51210.5. Section 51210.5.

The instruction in all areas of study specified in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, of Section 51210 as deemed appropriate by the governing board and consistent with the adopted course of study for each subject area, may include grade-level appropriate instruction on violence awareness and prevention, which may include personal testimony in the form of oral or video histories that illustrate the economic and cultural effects of violence within a city, the state, and the country.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51210.8. Section 51210.8.

(a) On or before March 1, 2008, based on recommendations of the Superintendent, the State Board of Education shall adopt content standards in the curriculum area of health education. (b) The content standards shall provide a framework for instruction that a school may offer in the curriculum area of health education. This section does not require a school to follow the content standards. (c) The content standards described in subdivision (a) shall only be developed if sufficient funds from any source are made available for that purpose, including state, federal, or private sources.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51212. Section 51212.

It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature to encourage the establishment of programs of instruction in world language, with instruction beginning as early as feasible for each school district.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026