BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: ACR 88
AUTHOR: Torlakson
AMENDED: January 7, 2010
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: June 16, 2010
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Beth Graybill
NOTE : This measure has been referred to the Committees on
Education and Rules. A "do pass" motion should include
referral to the Committee on Rules.
SUBJECT : Education
SUMMARY
This measure resolves that the California Task Force on
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) be
established to increase legislative awareness about STEM
education issues and promote the improvement of STEM
education across the state.
BACKGROUND
Existing law requires school districts to adopt a course of
study for grades 1-6 that includes instruction in English,
mathematics, social sciences, science, visual and performing
arts, health, physical education, and other areas prescribed
by the governing board. (Education Code 51210)
Existing law requires school districts to adopt a course of
study for grades 7-12 that offers courses in the above
subjects as well as foreign language, applied arts, career
technical education, and driver education. (EC 51220)
ANALYSIS
This measure :
1) Finds that California's competitiveness in the global
economy is dependent on the state's ability to better
educate young people in the subject areas of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics; makes other
findings concerning the proficiency of California
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students in mathematics and science, and finds that many
occupations will require laborers with significant
mathematics or science preparation.
2) Declares that 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 STEM education across the state and thereby enhance
California's competitive standing in the global economy.
3) Resolves that the California Task Force on Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (task
force) is established to promote the improvement of STEM
education and to increase legislative awareness about
mathematics, science, engineering, and technology
education issues, inform legislators regarding trends in
STEM education, raise awareness among the public
regarding the shortage of Californians prepared to
contribute to the State's future technology workforce.
4) Resolves that the task force be nonpartisan and have 11
voting members with additional advisory members and
alternates as requested or required. Calls for the task
force to be comprised of members of the Legislature and
experts as follows:
a) To be appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly :
i) Two Assembly members, one from each
party, with one serving as Chair of the task
force;
ii) One elementary or secondary teacher
with current classroom experience in STEM
education and membership in a state or
national professional association in a STEM
field;
iii) One postsecondary educator from a
STEM field with current classroom or
administrative experience in articulation of
elementary, secondary, and postsecondary
curriculum;
iv) Two representatives of a business or
association committed to supporting STEM
education in California.
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b) To be appointed by the Senate Committee on
Rules :
i) Two members of the Senate, one from
each party;
ii) Two elementary or secondary teachers
with current classroom experience in STEM
education and membership in a state or
national professional association in a STEM
field;
iii) One representative of a business or
association committed to supporting STEM
education in California.
5) Resolves that the members of the task force shall serve
as volunteers and shall not be reimbursed for travel or
any other expenses incurred in the performance of their
task force duties.
6) Resolves that the task force shall accept no state
funding and authorizes the task force to accept private
funds and in-kind donations. Calls for the task force
to hold at least one annual meeting that is open to the
public, annually
submit a report on its work to the Legislature, and
develop and support an Internet Web site to publicize
the mission of the task force and to provide resources
to California citizens, educators, and industry
employees.
7) Resolves that the task force cease to exist on January
1, 2014, unless a later resolution deletes or extends
the date.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill : According to the author, the state
of California's competitiveness in the global economy is
highly dependent on its ability to better educate
school-age children in the subjects of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics. The author's
office indicates that the purpose of the task force to
advise the Legislature on critical research, best
practices, and models for building a future California
workforce educated in the STEM fields.
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2) Federal focus on STEM education : In recent years, a
number of reports have addressed the erosion of math and
science skills among students and the decline of
postsecondary students majoring in STEM fields. A 2007
report by the National Academies of Sciences titled
"Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and
Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future"
contained a number of findings and recommendations for
strengthening K-12 science and mathematics education as
a way to strengthen skills needed by employers and to
encourage more students to pursue occupations and
careers in STEM fields.
The federal America COMPETES Act of 2007 focused on 1)
increasing research investment, 2) strengthening
educational opportunities in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics from elementary through
graduate school, and 3) developing an innovation
infrastructure. In 2009, The House of Representatives
passed the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009,
which would create an advisory committee on STEM
education to counsel the President on aligning federal
programs more effectively with the needs states and
schools. Additionally, Congress is debating
reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act.
3) What will a new task force add ? There are a number of
state, federal, and foundation-sponsored efforts aimed
at promoting STEM education, and many associations of
science and math teachers and STEM practitioners are
focused on promoting improvements in STEM education, and
advising policymakers about research and best practices
that could lead to enhance the proficiency of California
students in mathematics and science. Although it
appears that the task force would not utilize state
resources, will this task force add anything new to the
policy conversation that existing organizations aren't
already providing?
4) Related and prior legislation . This measure addresses
similar content and policy as the following:
SB 956 (Romero) - Requires $5 million dollars
appropriated from federal Workforce Investment Act
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funds to be made available to local education
agencies to train credentialed teachers who have
been laid off or who are teaching out of field to
meet subject matter qualifications and become
qualified to teach science, math, or industrial and
technology education. This bill was passed by this
Committee on a 5-2 vote.
SB 1376 (Romero) - Establishes a pilot
pre-apprenticeship aerospace machining program
(pilot program), to be administered by the
California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
(CLWDA), for the purpose of preparing high school
students to enter the aerospace machining
workforce. This bill was passed by this Committee
on an 8-0 vote.
SB 1444 (Hancock) - Statutorily defines
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) education as courses or a sequence of
courses that prepare pupils for occupations and
careers that require technically sophisticated
skills as specified. This bill was passed by this
Committee on a 6-1 vote.
SUPPORT
American Chemical Society California Government & Legislative
Affairs Committee
Business for Science, Math and Related Technology Education
California Healthcare Institute
California Mathematics Council
California School Employees Association
California Science Teachers Association
California State PTA
California Teachers Association
Hands on Science Partnership
Hands on Science Partnership
National Science Teachers Association
OPPOSITION
None received.