AB 959, as introduced, Bonilla. Pupil assessment.
The Leroy Greene California Assessment of Academic Achievement Act states the intent of the Legislature to provide a system of individual assessment of pupils that has the primary purpose of assisting teachers, administrators, and pupils and their parents to improve teaching and learning. Existing law establishes the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program pursuant to which each school district, charter school, and county office of education is required to administer to each of its pupils in grades 2 to 11, inclusive, the standards-based achievement tests. These provisions are inoperative on July 1, 2014, and as of January 1, 2015, are repealed.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature that the reauthorization of the statewide pupil assessment program include a specified plan to reform that program as it relates to grades 7 to 12, inclusive. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with various groups of individuals and entities, to develop and present to the State Board of Education, by July 1, 2014, recommendations to effectuate those reforms. The bill would require the state board to adopt, or modify and adopt, the recommendations by November 15, 2014. The bill would require the Superintendent and the state board to present to the Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature a schedule and implementation plan. The bill would require the State Department of Education to use specified federal funds or any other available and appropriate state and federal funds to implement these provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the
2reauthorization of the statewide pupil assessment program pursuant
3to Section 60604.5 of the Education Code include a plan to bring
4together elementary and secondary school policy leaders, the
5California Community Colleges, the California State University,
6the University of California, private colleges and universities, and
7postsecondary career technical and vocational programs to develop
8criteria and create nonpunitive pathways in which assessments
9taken by middle and high school pupils are aligned with college
10and career readiness and may be recognized as one of a number
11of multiple measures for entry into college, placement in
12college-level courses, and career training.
Section 60604.6 is added to the Education Code, to
14read:
(a) For purposes of developing a plan to strengthen
16the pupil relevance of assessments and to strengthen the alignment
17between state-mandated middle and high school assessments and
18the entry requirements or course placement decisions of public
19and private colleges and universities and postsecondary career and
20technical training institutions, the Superintendent, in consultation
21with the state board, the segments of public and private
22postsecondary education, career technical and training institutions,
23administrators of elementary and secondary schools, teachers,
24members of the governing board of school districts, pupil
25representatives, and parents, shall develop and recommend to the
26state board both of the following:
27(1) Principles among
elementary and secondary schools, public
28and private colleges and universities, and postsecondary career
29and technical training institutions that would strengthen the
30alignment of assessments of pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to
31any of the following:
P3 1(A) Requirements for entry into college.
2(B) Placement in college-level courses.
3(C) Career opportunities.
4(2) A plan and timeline to expand and strengthen future early
5assessment programs to provide information to postsecondary
6institutions, secondary schools, and pupils about pupil preparedness
7for all California postsecondary educational institutions, including
8the California Community Colleges, the California State
9University, the University of California, private colleges and
10universities, and
postsecondary career training institutions.
11(b) The Superintendent shall present recommendations to the
12state board on or before July 1, 2014. After the Superintendent
13presents the recommendations, two public hearings shall be held
14during regularly scheduled state board meetings to ensure public
15input and participation.
16(c) On or before November 15, 2014, the state board shall adopt,
17or modify and adopt, the recommendations.
18(d) The Superintendent and the state board shall present to the
19Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the
20Legislature a schedule and implementation plan that meets the
21intent of this section.
22(e) The department shall use funds received pursuant to Title
23VI of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20
U.S.C.
24Sec. 6301 et seq.), or any other available and appropriate state and
25federal funds, to implement this section.
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