BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 899|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 899
Author: Weber (D)
Amended: 9/6/13 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 9-0, 7/3/13
AYES: Liu, Wyland, Block, Correa, Hancock, Hueso, Huff,
Monning, Torres
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 8/30/13
AYES: De León, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 72-5, 5/29/13 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : English language development standards: mathematics
and science
SOURCE : Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
DIGEST : This bill requires the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) to recommend modifications to the English
language development standards to link those standards with the
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in mathematics and science.
Senate Floor Amendments of 9/6/13 clarify that the modifications
that are to be included in curricular frameworks are only the
modifications made pursuant to this bill.
ANALYSIS : Existing law requires the State Board of Education
(SBE) to approve standards for English language development for
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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.
The SBE adopted CCSS in English language arts and mathematics on
August 2, 2010.
The SBE adopted revised English language development standards
that are aligned to CCSS in English language arts on November 7,
2012.
Existing 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.
This bill requires the SPI to recommend modifications to the
English language development standards to link those standards
with CCSS in mathematics and science. Specifically, this bill:
1. Requires the SBE to direct the 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 the majority of the members of the group of
experts to be currently employed public school teachers.
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4. Requires the SPI to recommend to the SBE modifications to
the English language development standards to link with CCSS
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 CCSS 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, before 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 CCSS 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, as specified.
10.Requires SBE to ensure that any modifications to the English
language development standards adopted by SBE are
incorporated into the appropriate mathematics and science
curriculum frameworks.
11.Prohibits this bill from being implemented unless funds are
appropriated for its purpose.
12.Sunsets the provisions of this bill on July 1, 2016.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Convene experts and modify standards: Significant costs to
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the California Department of Education, likely in the low
hundreds of thousands.
Cost pressure: Substantial cost pressure for school
districts to provide instructional materials aligned to the
new standards.
SUPPORT : (Verified 9/9/13)
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson (source)
Association of California School Administrators
California Federation of Teachers
California State PTA
California Teachers Association
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Public Advocates
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : 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 law."
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 72-5, 5/29/13
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom,
Blumenfield, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown,
Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway,
Cooley, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Garcia,
Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Hagman, Hall,
Harkey, Roger Hernández, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Logue,
Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Mitchell,
Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan,
Patterson, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon,
Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber,
Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, Yamada, John A. Pérez
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NOES: Dahle, Donnelly, Beth Gaines, Grove, Jones
NO VOTE RECORDED: Holden, Linder, Vacancy
PQ:nl 9/6/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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