BILL ANALYSIS AB 2694 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 2694 (Blumenfield) As Amended June 30, 2010 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |72-0 |(May 20, 2010) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 24, | | | | | | |2010) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: ED. SUMMARY : Revises the definition of "supplementary instructional materials" and authorizes schools to include relevant technology-based materials when adopting instructional materials. The Senate amendments are technical to cross reference relevant code sections. EXISTING LAW : 1)Defines "supplementary instructional materials" as instructional materials designed to serve, but not be limited to, one or more of the following purposes, for a given subject, at a given grade level: a) To provide more complete coverage of a subject or subjects included in a given course; b) To provide for meeting the various learning ability levels of pupils in a given age group or grade level; c) To provide for meeting the diverse educational needs of pupils with a language disability in a given age group or grade level; or, d) To provide for meeting the diverse educational needs of pupils reflective of a condition of cultural pluralism. 2)Defines "technology-based materials" as basic or supplemental instructional materials that are designed for use by pupils and teachers as learning resources and that require the availability of electronic equipment in order to be used as a learning resource and specifies that technology-based AB 2694 Page 2 materials include, but are not limited to, software programs, video disks, compact disks, optical disks, video and audio tapes, lesson plans, and data bases. 3)Provides that technology-based materials do not include the electronic equipment required to make use of those materials, unless that equipment is used by pupils and teachers as a learning resource. AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar to the version passed by the Senate. FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal by Legislative Counsel. COMMENTS : The State Board of Education (SBE) adopts instructional materials for use in K-8 and local school districts adopt instructional materials for use in grades 9-12, inclusive. The SBE-adopted instructional materials must be consistent with the criteria and standards of quality prescribed in the adopted curriculum frameworks. Funding from the Instructional Materials Realignment Fund (IMRF) program must be used to purchase materials that have been adopted by the SBE and may be used to purchase supplementary instructional materials once the district has certified that each pupil has been provided instructional materials in the core areas. This bill modifies the definition of supplementary instructional materials and it requires districts to include technological instructional materials when adopting instructional materials. Supplementary instructional materials: This bill modifies the definition of "supplementary instructional materials" to include instructional materials designed "to use current, relevant technology that further engages interactive learning in the classroom and beyond." The existing definition of supplementary instructional materials focuses on the content and the purpose that these materials should serve and not the format in which those materials should be made available. Additionally, the definition of "technology-based materials" already includes supplemental instructional materials, essentially allowing for the development and use of electronic versions of supplementary instructional materials. Thus, a change in the definition of supplementary instructional materials may not be necessary. Use of electronic instructional materials: This bill authorizes AB 2694 Page 3 governing boards of school districts, when adopting instructional materials, to include the use of relevant technological instructional materials if the materials are both available and comparable to other, equivalent instructional materials. A review of the SBE adoption lists for the core subject, standards-aligned adoptions since 2005 shows that the number of electronic editions of adopted instructional materials has increased significantly. For example, the 2007 math adoption includes 22 basic programs, 10 of which are available in an optical disk, two are available as online texts, and one program has an integrated electronic component. In reading-language arts, nine basic programs were adopted, three of which are available in an optical disk, four are available as online texts, and one program has an integrated electronic component. A recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) finds that the share of Californians with Internet access at home is up 4 points (67% today compared to 63% in 2008) and that overall Internet use rose 6 points (76% today compared to 70% in 2008). Additionally, the survey shows that computer ownership is up 3 points (75% today compared to 72% in 2008). Despite these improvements, the PPIC reports that "a digital divide still persists," and notes that "just over half of Latinos (52%) say they have home computers, far lower than the percentage of Asians (89%), whites (87%), and blacks (75%) who do. Only 39 percent of Latinos have a home broadband connection, compared to 75 percent of whites, 74 percent of Asians, and 62 percent of blacks." Ensuring equal access to the equipment and infrastructure necessary to make use of technology-based materials is perhaps the greatest challenge in expanding use of technology-based materials. Students will need access to the instructional content both at school and at home, and most electronic formats will most likely require that students have access to a personal computer in both locations, and perhaps access to a broadband Internet connection. As noted by the PPIC report, there are still significant gaps in access. The author states, "AB 2694 was introduced to encourage schools to make a conscientious effort at engaging all students in their day-to-day instruction through the use of current, relevant technology as supplemental instructional materials when and where it is appropriate." The author further states, "It is not our intent to burden schools with mandates, requirements, or AB 2694 Page 4 costly upgrades; it is our intent to ensure that our schools make an effort to incorporate current, relevant technology when considering supplemental instructional materials; not only for the purposes of engaging all students but for preparing them for the technology employed in today's world." Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avina / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0005210