BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1540
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 8, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 1540 (Hancock) - As Amended: June 20, 2012
Policy Committee: Education Vote:8-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education (SBE), by June
30, 2014, to consider the adoption of a revised curriculum
framework and evaluation criteria for instructional materials
(IM) in history-social science.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)One-time GF administrative costs to the State Department of
Education (SDE), likely between $100,000 and $150,000, to
complete the history-social science curriculum framework and
evaluation criteria, as specified.
Due to the enactment of AB 2 X4 (Evans), Chapter 2, Statutes
of 2009, the governor vetoed $705,000 (GF) from the 2009-10
Budget Act for the Curriculum Development and Supplemental
Materials Commission (CDSMC), which conducts the majority of
the work associated with IM adoptions. Specifically, the
governor stated, "it is unnecessary for the CDSMC to continue
to advise the SBE on content frameworks and IM adoptions for
the next five years or until an agreed-upon process is
reestablished. This reduction removes funding for unnecessary
commission per diem and travel as well as funding for SDE
staff."
2)Potential GF/98 cost pressure, likely in the low millions, to
provide local education agencies (LEAs) with funding under to
purchase history-social science IM.
AB 2 X4 (Evans), Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009, authorized LEAs
to utilize IM funding for any education purpose it deems fit.
This authorization coupled with the suspension of the
SB 1540
Page 2
requirement to purchase IM has lead LEAs to redirect IM
funding for other purposes. Also, many LEAs argue current IM
funding levels do not fully cover the cost of purchasing IM.
With the enactment of Chapter 2, it is possible that LEAs will
need increased IM funding in 2013-14 to mitigate the
redirection of IM funding during the budget flexibility
period.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The Legislature and the governor agreed to a
moratorium on the purchase and adoption of IM due to the
state's severe fiscal crisis. Many argue however, that not
updating IM is a disservice to education. For example, various
Sikh organizations do not feel the current state
history-social science textbooks portray their culture fairly
and worked with the SBE to revise the curriculum framework. AB
2 X4 prevented the revised history-social science framework
from being adopted.
Prior to the enactment of AB 2 X4, the next history-social
science curriculum framework was scheduled for adoption in May
2010, with IM for this subject to be adopted in 2011. However,
this timeline is no longer relevant and the next adoption of
this framework has not been determined.
This bill requires the SBE, by June 30, 2014, to consider the
adoption of a revised curriculum framework and evaluation
criteria for IM in history-social science.
2)Background . In 1998, the SBE adopted academic content
standards in four major areas: English language arts,
mathematics, history-social science, and science. These
standards represent the foundation of California's educational
system. The state's assessments, accountability system,
textbooks, and professional development programs are aligned
to these content standards. Current law also requires the SBE
to adopt content standards and curriculum frameworks in other
content areas, including physical education and arts.
3)Related legislation .
a) AB 1246 (Brownley), pending in the Senate Appropriations
Committee, authorizes the SBE to adopt IM aligned to the
Common Core Standards in mathematics no later than February
SB 1540
Page 3
28, 2014.
b) SB 1200 (Hancock), pending in this committee, requires
the SBE to adopt the college and career readiness anchor
standards developed by the Common Core (CC) Standards
consortium and authorizes the SBE to approve modifications
to the CC Standards in English language arts and
mathematics. Specifically, this bill:
Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
Ó
SB 1540
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 8, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 1540 (Hancock) - As Amended: June 20, 2012
Policy Committee: Education Vote:8-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education (SBE), by June
30, 2014, to consider the adoption of a revised curriculum
framework and evaluation criteria for instructional materials
(IM) in history-social science.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)One-time GF administrative costs to the State Department of
Education (SDE), likely between $100,000 and $150,000, to
complete the history-social science curriculum framework and
evaluation criteria, as specified.
Due to the enactment of AB 2 X4 (Evans), Chapter 2, Statutes
of 2009, the governor vetoed $705,000 (GF) from the 2009-10
Budget Act for the Curriculum Development and Supplemental
Materials Commission (CDSMC), which conducts the majority of
the work associated with IM adoptions. Specifically, the
governor stated, "it is unnecessary for the CDSMC to continue
to advise the SBE on content frameworks and IM adoptions for
the next five years or until an agreed-upon process is
reestablished. This reduction removes funding for unnecessary
commission per diem and travel as well as funding for SDE
staff."
2)Potential GF/98 cost pressure, likely in the low millions, to
provide local education agencies (LEAs) with funding under to
purchase history-social science IM.
AB 2 X4 (Evans), Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009, authorized LEAs
to utilize IM funding for any education purpose it deems fit.
This authorization coupled with the suspension of the
SB 1540
Page 2
requirement to purchase IM has lead LEAs to redirect IM
funding for other purposes. Also, many LEAs argue current IM
funding levels do not fully cover the cost of purchasing IM.
With the enactment of Chapter 2, it is possible that LEAs will
need increased IM funding in 2013-14 to mitigate the
redirection of IM funding during the budget flexibility
period.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The Legislature and the governor agreed to a
moratorium on the purchase and adoption of IM due to the
state's severe fiscal crisis. Many argue however, that not
updating IM is a disservice to education. For example, various
Sikh organizations do not feel the current state
history-social science textbooks portray their culture fairly
and worked with the SBE to revise the curriculum framework. AB
2 X4 prevented the revised history-social science framework
from being adopted.
Prior to the enactment of AB 2 X4, the next history-social
science curriculum framework was scheduled for adoption in May
2010, with IM for this subject to be adopted in 2011. However,
this timeline is no longer relevant and the next adoption of
this framework has not been determined.
This bill requires the SBE, by June 30, 2014, to consider the
adoption of a revised curriculum framework and evaluation
criteria for IM in history-social science.
2)Background . In 1998, the SBE adopted academic content
standards in four major areas: English language arts,
mathematics, history-social science, and science. These
standards represent the foundation of California's educational
system. The state's assessments, accountability system,
textbooks, and professional development programs are aligned
to these content standards. Current law also requires the SBE
to adopt content standards and curriculum frameworks in other
content areas, including physical education and arts.
3)Related legislation .
a) AB 1246 (Brownley), pending in the Senate Appropriations
Committee, authorizes the SBE to adopt IM aligned to the
Common Core Standards in mathematics no later than February
SB 1540
Page 3
28, 2014.
b) SB 1200 (Hancock), pending in this committee, requires
the SBE to adopt the college and career readiness anchor
standards developed by the Common Core (CC) Standards
consortium and authorizes the SBE to approve modifications
to the CC Standards in English language arts and
mathematics. Specifically, this bill:
Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)
319-2081