BILL NUMBER: ACR 88	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Torlakson and Furutani
   (Coauthors: Senators Maldonado and Wyland)

                        AUGUST 17, 2009

   Relative to Education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 88, as introduced, Torlakson. Education.
   This measure would establish, until January 1, 2014, the
California Task Force on Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Education for the purpose of advising the California
Legislature on critical research, best practices, and models for
building a future California workforce educated in the science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The task force would
generate discussion on policy that would improve the teaching of
these subject areas for the state's pupils. The task force would
consist of Members of the Legislature and experts appointed by the
Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules. The task
force would conduct its business on a volunteer basis, be able to
accept private funds, and would submit an annual report on its work
to the Legislature.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The State of California's competitiveness in the global
economy increasingly depends on our ability to better educate our
young people in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
subject areas and to attract more of our best and brightest students
into science, mathematics, engineering, and technology careers; and
   WHEREAS, The most recent 10-year employment projections by the
United States Department of Labor show that of the 20 fastest growing
occupations projected for 2014, 15 of them require significant
mathematics or science preparation to successfully compete for a job;
and
   WHEREAS, One-third of fourth graders and one-fifth of eighth
graders nationwide cannot perform basic mathematical computations,
and United States high school seniors recently tested below the
international average for 21 countries in mathematics and science;
and
   WHEREAS, California pupils ranked 46th out of 50 states in
mathematics proficiency and 42nd in science proficiency on recent 8th
grade National Assessment of Educational Progress tests; and
   WHEREAS, More than 50 percent of California 4th and 8th grade
pupils scored below the basic level in science and 40 percent ranked
below the basic level in mathematics as determined by the National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation's
Report Card; and
   WHEREAS, California schools must engage pupils in science,
technology, and mathematics at a young age and keep them engaged
throughout their education and career pipeline; and
   WHEREAS, A legislative task force is necessary to provide a
framework for statewide policy and support to California's schools in
order to promote the improvement of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education across the state and thereby
enhance California's competitive standing in the global economy; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the California Task Force on Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education is hereby
established to promote the improvement of mathematics, science,
engineering, and technology education across the state; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the task force shall increase legislative awareness
about mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education
issues, inform legislators regarding trends in mathematics, science,
engineering, and technology education, and raise awareness among the
public regarding the distressing shortage of Californians prepared to
contribute to the state's future technology workforce; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the California Task Force on Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics Education shall be established for the
purpose of raising awareness of educational issues and shall be
nonpartisan in nature; and be it further
   Resolved, That the task force shall be comprised of Members of the
Legislature and experts as follows:
   (1) The task force shall have 11 voting members, with additional
advisory members and alternates as requested or required.
   (2) The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint all of the
following:
   (A) The chair and an additional member from the Assembly.
   (B) One K-12 teacher with current public classroom experience in
science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or industrial arts
education and with a membership in a state or national professional
association on science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or
industrial arts education.
   (C) One post-secondary educator from the science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, or industrial arts education subject areas
with current classroom or administrative experience for the purpose
of advising the task force on articulation of K-12 and postsecondary
curriculum to prepare pupils for higher education.
   (D) Two representatives of a business or association committed to
supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
education in California.
   (3) The Chair of the Senate Rules Committee shall appoint all of
the following:
   (A) Two members of the Senate.
   (B) Two K-12 teachers with current public classroom experience in
science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or industrial arts
education and with a membership in a state or national professional
association on science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or
industrial arts education.
   (C) One representative of a business or association committed to
supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
education in California; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Members of the Legislature who serve on the
task force shall serve for a term of two years and only to the extent
that their service is consistent with their duties as Members of the
Legislature; and be it further
   Resolved, That nonlegislative members of the task force shall be
at-will appointees serving at the pleasure of the Speaker of the
Assembly and the Chair of the Senate Rules Committee for a term of up
to two years and shall conduct the business of the task force on a
volunteer basis and shall not receive a salary for services nor be
reimbursed for travel or any other expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties as task force members; and be it further
   Resolved, That the task force shall have all of the following
duties:
   (1) Hold at least one annual meeting, open to the public.
   (2) Develop and support an Internet Web site for the purpose of
publicizing the task force mission statement and providing resources
to California citizens, educators, and industry employers.
   (3) Submit a report on the work on the task force annually for the
review of the Legislature; and be it further
   Resolved, That the task force shall accept no state funding and is
authorized to accept private funds and in-kind donation to pay
expenses incurred in conducting task force business; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the task force cease to exist on January 1, 2014,
unless a resolution that is enacted before that date deletes or
extends that date; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.