BILL NUMBER: SB 681 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Torlakson
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
An act to add Chapters 8 (commencing with Section 60820) and 8.5
(commencing with Section 60830) to Part 33 of Division 4 of Title 2
of the Education Code, relating to pupil assessment.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 681, as introduced, Torlakson. Pupil assessment: early
assessment program: Expository Reading and Writing Course.
Existing law establishes the Standardized Testing and Reporting
Program, which is known as the STAR Program. The STAR Program
requires each school district, charter school, and county office of
education to administer a specified achievement test designated by
the State Board of Education to each of its pupils in grades 3 and 7,
and a different achievement test designated by the state board to
each of its pupils in grades 2 to 11, inclusive.
This bill would require a school district to administer,
commencing with the 2007-08 school year, to each pupil enrolled in
grade 11 the early assessment program test for English and, if the
pupil is enrolled in algebra II or a higher level mathematics course,
the early assessment program test for mathematics. By requiring
school districts to provide a higher level of service by performing
additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local
program.
The bill would require the California State University to directly
provide professional development regarding the Expository Reading
and Writing Course, as defined, to high school English teachers in
school districts with the highest percentage of pupils who have
failed the early assessment program test in English and who are
likely to require remedial English courses upon enrolling in a
college or university. The California State University would also be
required to train school district and county office of education
personnel to provide professional development to high school English
teachers regarding the Expository Reading and Writing Course and
provide funding to specified school districts for purposes of
developing curriculum and purchasing instructional materials for the
course.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) In the three years since the early assessment program was
introduced in conjunction with the administration of the California
standards test for pupils in grade 11 in English/language arts,
algebra II, and high school summative mathematics, over 50 percent of
those pupils voluntarily take the early assessment program tests to
determine their readiness for college-level English and mathematics.
(b) The early assessment program was developed by the California
State University, in collaboration with the State Department of
Education and the State Board of Education, to provide pupils, their
families, and high schools the opportunity to assess the readiness of
pupils enrolled in grade 11 for college-level English and
mathematics.
(c) The early assessment program consists of questions from the
California standards test in English/language arts, algebra II, and
summative high school mathematics that is administered to pupils in
grade 11, plus 15 additional multiple-choice questions and a written
essay. Selected items from the California standards test and
additional early assessment program items, including a written essay
in English, are scored to determine readiness for college English and
mathematics.
(d) The early assessment program questions on the California
standards test are from the California State Board of Education
standards.
(e) The early assessment program provides valuable information to
the high school about readiness for college-level English and
mathematics, and the early assessment program report enables the
pupil, family, and high school to identify the pupil's need for
additional preparation in English and mathematics while still
enrolled in high school.
(f) As appropriate, working with high school counselors and
teachers, pupils have the opportunity to enroll in mathematics
classes in grade 12 or participate in Web-based mathematics
interactive tutorials. They may also enroll in English classes that
include additional instruction in expository reading and writing,
essential skills that high school teachers identify as necessary for
success not only in English but across the curriculum.
(g) The early assessment program not only provides an opportunity
to high schools to identify pupils who need additional work in
English and mathematics in grade 12, but it also provides an
additional benefit to pupils who attend any of the 23 campuses of the
California State University. Pupils who are determined to be
college-ready on the basis of the early assessment program are exempt
from taking the placement tests required by the California State
University in English and mathematics and move directly into
baccalaureate-level classes upon enrollment.
(h) Pupils who are assessed as not ready for college at the end of
grade 11 have the opportunity to strengthen their skills in grade
12, which will help to increase their mastery of the subjects and
ability to demonstrate proficiency on the English and mathematics
placement tests required by the California State University.
SEC. 2. Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 60820) is added to Part
33 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:
CHAPTER 8. EARLY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
60820. Commencing with the 2007-08 school year, each school
district, charter school, and county office of education shall
administer to each pupil enrolled in grade 11 the early assessment
program test for English and, if the pupil is enrolled in algebra II
or a higher level mathematics course, the early assessment program
test for mathematics.
SEC. 3. Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 60830) is added to
Part 33 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:
CHAPTER 8.5. EXPOSITORY READING AND WRITING COURSE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
60830. For purposes of this chapter, "Expository Reading and
Writing Course" means the 12th Grade Expository Reading and Writing
Course developed by the California State University Expository
Reading and Writing Task Force.
60831. It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the
adoption by California high schools of the Expository Reading and
Writing Course by expanding professional development opportunities
for high school English teachers regarding that course.
60832. (a) The California State University, using funding
appropriated in the annual Budget Act or other statute for purposes
of this chapter, shall do both of the following:
(1) Directly provide professional development regarding the
Expository Reading and Writing Course to high school English teachers
in school districts with the highest percentage of pupils who have
failed the early assessment program test in English and who are
likely to require remedial English courses upon enrolling in a
college or university, as determined by the California State
University based on data it collects.
(2) Train school district and county office of education personnel
to provide professional development to high school English teachers
regarding the Expository Reading and Writing Course.
(3) Provide funding to school districts described in paragraph (1)
for purposes of developing curriculum and purchasing instructional
materials for the Expository Reading and Writing Course.
(b) Professional development provided to school districts pursuant
to this chapter shall include, but not be limited to, all of the
following:
(1) Initial introduction to curriculum and instructional
materials.
(2) Followup support for trainees that includes coaching.
(3) Ongoing support to monitor implementation of the Expository
Reading and Writing Course over a period of three years.
SEC. 4. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.