BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 899
AUTHOR: Weber
AMENDED: June 26, 2013
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: July 3, 2013
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : English language development standards:
mathematics and science.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to recommend modifications to the English language
development standards to link those standards with the
common core standards in mathematics and science.
BACKGROUND
Current law requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to
approve standards for English language development for
pupils whose primary language is a language other than
English. The English language development standards help
guide curriculum, instruction, and assessment for English
learners who are developing the English language skills
needed to engage successfully with state subject matter
standards for college- and career-readiness.
(Education Code § 60811)
The SBE adopted common core state standards in English
language arts and mathematics on August 2, 2010. (EC §
60605.8)
The SBE adopted revised English language development
standards that are aligned to California's common core
standards in English language arts on November 7, 2012.
(EC § 60811.3)
Current law requires the SBE to consider the adoption of
new science standards that are based on the Next Generation
Science Standards by November 30, 2013. (EC § 60605.85)
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to recommend modifications to the English language
development standards to link those standards with the
common core standards in mathematics and science.
Specifically, this bill:
1) Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to direct
the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to
recommend linking English language development
standards to the standards for mathematics and
science.
2) Requires the SPI to convene a group of experts to
review the mathematics and science standards to
identify those that correspond to the English language
development standards.
3) Requires the SPI, in consultation with the SBE, to
convene a group of experts in English language
instruction, curriculum, and assessment, including
people who have a minimum of three years demonstrated
experience instructing English learners in the
classroom at the elementary or secondary level. The
SPI is required to ensure that members of the group
include but are not limited to people who are
schoolsite principals, school district or county
office of education administrators overseeing programs
and support for English learners, personnel of teacher
training schools at institutions of higher education,
and curriculum and instructional specialists with
English learner experience. This bill requires that
at least one-half of the members of the group of
experts to be currently employed public school
teachers.
4) Requires the SPI to recommend to the SBE modifications
to the English language development standards to link
with the common core standards for mathematics and
science.
5) Requires the SBE to adopt or reject the SPI's
recommendations for the English language development
standards to correspond with California's common core
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standards in mathematics and science by August 1,
2015.
6) Requires the SBE, if the SBE chooses to modify the
English language development standards, to explain in
writing to the Governor and Legislature the reasons
for modification.
7) Requires the SPI, prior to making recommendations to
the SBE, to hold at least two public meetings for the
public to provide input.
8) Requires the linked English language development
standards to be comparable in rigor and specificity to
the standards to which they are linked, including
California's common core standards for mathematics and
science.
9) Requires the SPI's recommendations and SBE's actions
to assist schools in the implementation and
application of English language development standards
in mathematics and science.
10) Prohibits this bill from being implemented unless
funds are appropriated for its purpose.
11) Sunsets the provisions of this bill on July 1, 2016.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author, "AB 899
will identify the links between the English Language
Development (ELD) standards, math and science as
required under Title I and Title III. Under the No
Child Left Behind Act, ELD standards must be linked to
content standards and the English language proficiency
test must be appropriately aligned to the ELD
standards. States are held accountable for the
academic progress of English learners and for their
ability to sustain academic performance after they
exit English learner programs. By aligning the common
core standards for math and the Next Generation
Science Standards to the ELD standards, the state is
ensuring that all English learners are meeting
academic content standards and complying with federal
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law."
2) Author's amendments . The author wishes to amend this
bill to increase the representation of teachers, from
at least one-half to a majority, on the group of
experts.
3) Align vs link . Statutes requiring the revision of
standards typically references alignment to the common
core standards. For example, current law required the
English language development standards to be revised
and aligned with the common core English language arts
standards. This bill requires recommendations be made
for the modification of the English language
development standards to link those standards with the
common core standards in mathematics and science. It
is possible for fully align English language
development standards with English language arts
standards, but a pure alignment between English
language development and mathematics and science is
not possible. Therefore, this bill calls for those
standards to instead be linked.
4) Ambitious schedule . Several common core-related
activities are currently being undertaken, including
the adoption of updated standards in science, revised
frameworks in mathematics by November 30, 2013, and
English language arts by May 30, 2014, approval of
supplemental instructional materials in mathematics in
July 2013, and an adoption of basic instructional
materials in mathematics for grades K-8, by March 30,
2014.
5) Technical amendments . Staff recommends the following
technical amendments:
a) Cross-reference English language development
standards adopted pursuant to Education Code §
60811.3 rather than 60811. On page 3, lines 23
and 35, on page 4, line 40, and on page 5, line
5.
b) Reinstate EC § 60811 to current law and add
reference to mathematics and science standards.
Page 3, lines 3-17.
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c) Move from EC § 60811 to EC § 60811.4(c) the
purpose of the group of experts. On page 3,
lines 8-12, move to page 4, line 15.
d) Merge EC § 60811.4(b) and (c), as both
subdivisions are identical other than one
references mathematics and the other references
science. On page 3, lines 20-35 and page 4,
lines 1-9.
e) Merge EC § 60811.4 (e)(1) and (2) for the
reason stated in (b). On page 4, lines 36-40,
and page 5, lines 1-7.
6) Fiscal impact . According to the Assembly
Appropriations Committee, this bill would impose a
one-time General Fund administrative cost pressure to
California Department of Education, likely between
$125,000 and $175,000, to complete the requirements of
this measure. Further, this bill would create a
General Fund (Proposition 98) cost pressure, likely in
the low to tens of millions, to school districts to
provide instructional materials and professional
development on the revised English language
development standards.
7) Related legislation . AB 455 (Medina) requires the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to consult with a
group of experts to develop standards for Braille and
American Sign Language that are aligned to the common
core standards. AB 455 is pending in this Committee.
SUPPORT
Public Advocates
OPPOSITION
None on file.