BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Alan Lowenthal, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 1540
AUTHOR: Hancock
INTRODUCED: February 24, 2012
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: March 28, 2012
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : History-Social Science Framework.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education to
consider, by June 30, 2014, the adoption of a
history-social science framework.
BACKGROUND
Academic content standards define the knowledge, concepts,
and skills that pupils should acquire at each grade level.
Curricular frameworks are the blueprint for implementing
the standards, and include criteria by which instructional
materials are evaluated.
The history-social science framework was last adopted in
2005. A review of this framework was underway and nearly
complete when the state suspended the process due to budget
constraints.
The processes for reviewing frameworks and adopting
instructional materials have been suspended since July 28,
2009. The State Board of Education (SBE) is specifically
prohibited from reviewing frameworks and adopting
instructional materials until the 2015-16 school year.
(Education Code § 60200.7)
The SBE adopted common core standards in English language
arts and mathematics on August 2, 2010. Recently enacted
legislation requires the SBE to adopt revised curriculum
frameworks and criteria by which instructional materials
will be evaluated that are aligned to the common core
standards for mathematics by May 30, 2013 and English
language arts by May 30, 2014. The prohibition on
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reviewing frameworks and developing evaluation criteria for
all other subjects remains intact. (EC § 60207)
ANALYSIS
This bill:
1) Requires the State Board of Education to consider, by
June 30, 2014, the adoption of a revised curriculum
framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials in history-social science.
2) States that this adoption is in order to expedite the
time and to maximize the cost of the adoption process.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author, "The
History Social Science Standards have not been updated
since 1998. The last Framework as adopted in 2003.
However, the most recent History Social Science
Framework process was almost complete when flexibility
was instituted. SB 1540 would allow the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to update and
present the draft to the State Board of Education for
consideration/approval. The adoption of the History
Social Science Framework does not require districts to
purchase new instructional materials. If a district
purchases supplemental materials, the existence of the
Framework would be helpful in the review of available
materials."
2) Update of History-Social Science framework was
underway . The Curriculum Commission approved the draft
update of this framework for field review on July 17,
2009. However, suspension of the framework and
instructional material processes was implemented
beginning July 28, 2009, meaning that no actual field
review or online survey has occurred for this
framework. According to the California Department of
Education (CDE) the revision of the history-social
science framework can be completed for approximately
$30,000. Many stakeholders and ethnic groups support
the resumption of this process because the updated
frameworks are a culmination of months of research and
negotiations. The updated framework includes
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information relative to the role of Sikhs and Korean
Americans, among others.
3) Timeline . This bill requires the State Board of
Education (SBE) to consider adopting the
history-social science framework and evaluation
criteria by June 30, 2014. Some have questioned the
need for such a long timeline. The CDE indicates
that, while the framework and evaluation criteria are
nearly completed, two 60-day review periods are
required before adoption may be considered by the SBE.
Additionally, the CDE is currently undertaking the
implementation of the Common Core Standards, including
the development of the framework for the common core
standards in English language arts and mathematics as
required by current law.
4) Fiscal impact . According to the CDE, this bill could
be implemented for approximately $30,000.
5) Technical amendment needed . On page 2, line 12,
strike "maximize" and insert "minimize."
6) Related legislation . SB 1080 (Lieu) provides that
instruction in economics may include instruction
related to personal finances and would require the
California Department of Education to develop a
personal finances curriculum in the next adoption
cycle of the mathematics and history-social science
curriculum frameworks. SB 1080 is scheduled to be
heard in this Committee on March 28, 2012.
SB 993 (De Leon) authorizes instruction in social science
for grades 7-12 to include information about the
Bracero program. SB 993 is pending in this Committee.
SB 994 (Vargas) states legislative intent relative to
expanding instruction in California Latino history.
SB 994 is pending in the Senate Rules Committee.
SB 1325 (Wyland) requires the Superintendent of Public
Instruction and the SBE to consider methods for
enhancing pupil knowledge of, and pride in, our
history and form of government and for increasing
civic participation, including developing new
curriculum frameworks and standards, if necessary. SB
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1325 is pending in the Senate Rules Committee.
AB 580 (Davis) requires instruction on the role and
contributions of people of all races, colors, genders,
sexual orientations, national origins, religions and
marital status to include updated references. AB 580
is pending in the Senate Rules Committee.
AB 1756 (Knight) authorizes schools to elect not to provide
social science instruction on the role and
contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender Americans. AB 1756 is pending in the
Assembly Education Committee.
AB 2546 (Donnelly) recasts existing provisions relative to
instruction on the role and contributions of people
with specified characteristics to exclude mention of
sexual orientation, and instead require, among other
things, the study of a person in social science
instruction to be accurate and based solely on
historical significance rather than membership in a
protected class. AB 2546 is pending in the Assembly
Education Committee.
7) Prior legislation . SB 48 (Leno, Chapter 81, 2011)
requires instruction in social science to include the
role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender Americans.
SB 300 (Hancock, Chapter 624, 2011), at one time included
provisions relative to the completion of the
history-social science framework. The final version
of SB 300 requires the SBE to adopt revised standards
in science.
SB 1278 (Wyland, 2010) would have required the SBE to adopt
a revised framework and evaluation criteria for
history-social science in 2011. SB 1278 was held in
the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 2069 (Carter, 2010) would have required the SBE to adopt
a revised framework and evaluation criteria for
history-social science by July 1, 2011. AB 2069 was
held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
SUPPORT
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California Council for the Social Studies
Sikh Coalition
Sikh Council of Central California
Sikh Temple Sacramento
Superintendent of Public Instruction
OPPOSITION
None on file.