BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1444|
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VETO
Bill No: SB 1444
Author: Hancock (D)
Amended: 6/22/10
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-1, 4/21/10
AYES: Romero, Alquist, Hancock, Liu, Simitian, Wyland
NOES: Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Maldonado, Price
SENATE FLOOR : 24-8, 5/3/10
AYES: Aanestad, Ashburn, Cedillo, Corbett, Correa,
DeSaulnier, Ducheny, Florez, Hancock, Kehoe, Leno, Liu,
Lowenthal, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Padilla, Pavley,
Price, Romero, Simitian, Wolk, Wright, Wyland, Yee
NOES: Cox, Denham, Harman, Hollingsworth, Huff, Runner,
Strickland, Walters
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alquist, Calderon, Cogdill, Dutton,
Steinberg, Wiggins, Vacancy, Vacancy
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 8/16/10 - See last page for vote
SENATE FLOOR : 35-0, 8/25/10
AYES: Aanestad, Alquist, Ashburn, Blakeslee, Calderon,
Cedillo, Cogdill, Corbett, Correa, Denham, DeSaulnier,
Ducheny, Dutton, Emmerson, Florez, Hancock, Huff, Kehoe,
Leno, Liu, Lowenthal, Negrete McLeod, Padilla, Pavley,
Price, Romero, Runner, Simitian, Steinberg, Strickland,
Walters, Wolk, Wright, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Harman, Hollingsworth, Oropeza, Wiggins,
Vacancy
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SUBJECT : Pupil instruction: science, technology,
engineering, and
mathematics education
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill sets forth various findings and
declarations of the Legislature relating to 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.
Assembly Amendments (1) amended the findings and
declarations of the Legislature relating to STEM education,
and (2) added language to express the Legislature's intent
that the Superintendent of Public Instruction allocate
funds designated for STEM education.
ANALYSIS : Existing law establishes requirements for
courses of study in grades 1 through 12 and requires the
adopted courses of study for grades 1-6 and grades 7-12 to
offer courses in specified areas of study, including
science and mathematics.
Existing law requires courses in certain career technical
education programs, such as Regional Occupational Centers
and Programs (ROC/Ps), to be part of occupational course
sequences that target comprehensive skills.
This bill:
1.Sets forth various findings and declarations of the
Legislature relating to science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM) education.
2.Expresses the intent of the Legislature that the
Superintendent of Public Instruction allocate funds
designated for STEM education, including state, federal
or private funds, consistent with the definitions set
forth in this bill.
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3.This bill defines STEM education to mean courses or
sequence of courses that prepare pupils for occupations
and careers that require technically sophisticated
skills, including the application of mathematical and
scientific skills and concepts.
4.Provides that STEM education for grades 1-12, inclusive,
may include, but not be limited to, instruction as
follows:
A. In grades 1-6, inclusive, STEM education includes
foundational courses in mathematics, science, and
technology that lead to success in challenging and
applies classes in grades 7-12. The bill further
specifies that it is in grades 1 to 6, inclusive,
that awareness of STEM careers and occupations in
fields related to science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics begins.
B. In grades 7-12, inclusive, STEM education includes
rigorous and challenging courses that include the
application of science, mathematics, engineering, and
technology. The bill further specifies that (a) in
grades 7 and 8, awareness of STEM careers and
occupations continues, and career exploration begins,
and (2) STEM education in high school includes
courses and pathways for pupils to explore and
prepare for careers and occupations in STEM fields.
Background
STEM Education . In 2007, the national Academies of
Sciences published a report titled, "Rising Above the
Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a
Brighter Economic Future," that contained a number of
findings and recommendations for bolstering U.S.
competitiveness and pre-eminence in the global science and
technology marketplace. Among the recommendations was the
need to strengthen K-12 science and mathematics education,
both as a way to strengthen skills needed by employers, but
also to encourage more students to pursue occupations and
careers in STEM fields. The federal America COMPETES Act
of 2007, which was a legislative response to the
recommendations contained in the report, focused on three
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primary areas: (1) increasing research investment, (2)
strengthening educational opportunities in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics for elementary
through graduate school, and (3) developing an innovation
infrastructure.
As Congress prepares to take up the reauthorization of the
America COMPETES Act, the House Committee on Science and
Technology has had an informational hearing on STEM
education in which witnesses stressed the need to continue
its efforts to strengthen K-12 STEM education and the
importance of involving school systems, institutions of
higher education, informal science education centers,
science-based institutions, museums, local governments, and
the business community to help all students increase STEM
literacy skills.
To the extent that this bill enables California to have a
definition "on the books" concerning STEM education, this
bill could not only provide a framework for STEM curriculum
but could also enhance the state's ability to participate
in grant programs that may be established with the
reauthorization of the federal America COMPETES and the
Elementary and Secondary Education Acts.
Related Legislation
SB 956 (Romero), 2009-10 Session . Establishes a program to
enable teachers affected by a reduction in force to meet
subject matter competency requirements to become authorized
to teach STEM subjects. (In Senate Appropriations
Committee)
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Unable to reverify at time of writing)
Bayer Health Care
California Alliance for Arts Education (if amended)
California Science Teachers Association
California Space Authority
Small School Districts' Association
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ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
there is a demonstrated deficiency in the number of high
school graduates with competency in math, science, and/or
technology, and a growing gap between workforce needs and
qualified college/postbaccalaureate applicants. By
defining STEM education in statute, the author hopes to
provide a framework for structuring future STEM curriculum
and course sequences.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
"I am returning Senate Bill 1444 without my
signature.
While I strongly support science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, this
bill does nothing to promote real opportunities for
STEM education. This bill could create unintended,
potential barriers by preventing California from
applying for and receiving funds for STEM-related
programs, if grant requirements or competitive
priorities are not consistent with the definition
outlined in the bill. This bill could create
confusion and limit future STEM education efforts.
For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill."
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Carter, Chesbro, Conway,
Cook, Coto, De La Torre, De Leon, DeVore, Eng, Evans,
Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines,
Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Harkey,
Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jeffries,
Jones, Knight, Lieu, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma,
Mendoza, Miller, Monning, Nava, Nestande, Niello,
Nielsen, Norby, V. Manuel Perez, Portantino, Ruskin,
Salas, Saldana, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Audra
Strickland, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran,
Villines, Yamada, John A. Perez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Bass, Blakeslee, Charles Calderon,
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Davis, Vacancy
CPM:cm 10/5/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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