BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 611
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 611 (Steinberg)
As Introduced July 13, 2011
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :26-11
HIGHER EDUCATION 6-2 EDUCATION 7-2
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|Ayes:|Block, Achadjian, Fong, |Ayes:|Brownley, Ammiano, |
| |Galgiani, Lara, | |Buchanan, Butler, Carter, |
| |Portantino | |Eng, Williams |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Donnelly, Miller |Nays:|Norby, Beth Gaines |
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, | | |
| |Bradford, Charles | | |
| |Calderon, Campos, Davis, | | |
| |Gatto, Hall, Hill, Lara, | | |
| |Mitchell, Solorio | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, | | |
| |Nielsen, Norby, Wagner | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requests the Regents of the University of California
(UC) to establish and maintain the University of California
Curriculum Integration Institute (UCCII). Specifically, this
bill :
1)Request the UC Regents, subject to the availability of funds
in the Budget Act and/or the availability of federal or
private funds, to operate the UCCII to facilitate, among
secondary level teachers, postsecondary education instructors,
and statewide career technical education (CTE) associations,
the development and promotion of integrated academic and
technical education courses that meet UC and California State
SB 611
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University (CSU) admission requirements and align with
identified high-priority industry sectors.
2)States legislative intent that the UCCII facilitate at least
10 convenings, serve at least 500 educators annually, and
develop at least 250 courses by January 1, 2015.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, estimated annual costs of $4 million to conduct 10
convenings, subject to availability of a Budget Act
appropriation from the General Fund and/or federal or private
funding.
COMMENTS : UC and CSU have established common high school course
("a-g") requirements for undergraduate admissions to ensure that
potential university students are prepared to engage and be
successful in university-level coursework. Students who follow
the articulated sequence of courses in each subject area and who
meet other specified criteria are eligible to apply and be
considered for admission. The UC Board of Admissions and
Relations with Schools (BOARS), comprised of UC faculty, reviews
and determines which high school courses meet the "a-g" approval
criteria. The CSU accepts courses certified by BOARS, thus
enabling students to complete the same course-taking sequence
whether they choose to apply for admission to UC or CSU.
Since 2001-02, the number of CTE courses deemed "a-g" eligible
has grown dramatically. According to a December 2010 report by
the state Department of Education, there are 8,389 high school
career technical education (CTE) courses meeting the "a-g"
requirements.
While the author notes that progress has been made, as mentioned
above, he argues there are significant gaps in developing
eligible CTE courses in critical subject areas. According to
the author, only 334 approved courses exist in language other
than English, 47 in history/social sciences, 18 in English, and
just eight courses in math. (Fully 95% of the approved CTE
courses are either in the areas visual and performing arts,
electives, or laboratory sciences.) The author maintains the
concentration of approved CTE courses in a few subject areas
suggests that "hands-on, career-oriented academic and technical
learning opportunities that meet "a-g" requirements have yet to
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become part of the core set of learning options available for
California high school students.
"According to the author, "SB 611 would begin to address this
deficiency by establishing a robust, centralized mechanism for
high school teachers, university faculty and other experts to
develop and disseminate new, model courses that provide students
rigorous academic content that is linked to real world
applications and relevant to the needs of the industries that
California seeks to grow."
UCCII was established in 2009-10 with $600,000 in funding
(pursuant to SB 70 (Scott), Chapter 352, Statutes of 2005) to
help high school faculty create "a-g" approved courses and to
prepare faculty groups as a cadre of experts who can further the
development of integrated courses. The first UCCII, held in May
2010, focused on mathematics as integrated with finance and
business sectors. A total of 38 high school teachers
participated in the institute. The fall 2010 institute focused
on history/social studies and English in conjunction with six
media sectors, including arts, media, and entertainment and
health science and medical technology.
Analysis Prepared by : Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0002171