BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 899| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 CONTINUED AB 899 Page 2 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. CONTINUED AB 899 Page 3 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 CONTINUED AB 899 Page 4 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 CONTINUED AB 899 Page 5 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 **** END **** CONTINUED