BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 300 Page 1 Date of Hearing: June 26, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION Joan Buchanan, Chair SB 300 (Hancock) - As Introduced: February 15, 2013 SENATE VOTE : 37-1 SUBJECT : Curriculum framework: Next Generation Science Standards. SUMMARY : Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to consider curriculum frameworks and evaluation criteria for instructional materials aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. Specifically, this bill : 1)Makes findings and declarations of the Legislature related to the Next Generation Science Standards, the necessity of curriculum frameworks, and the intent that the adoption of a new curriculum framework is not a mandate for the purchase of new instructional materials. 2)Requires the SBE, on or before November 30, 2015, to consider the adoption of a revised curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional materials in science based upon the Next Generation Science Standards. EXISTING LAW : 1)Requires the SBE, by November 30, 2013, to adopt science content standards as recommended by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and a group of experts and requires the SPI and this group of experts to use the Next Generation Science Standards as the basis for their recommendations. 2)Defines "curriculum framework" as an outline of the components of a given course of study designed to provide state direction to school districts in providing instructional programs. 3)Prohibits the SBE from adopting, and the California Department of Education (CDE) from preparing, curriculum frameworks or SB 300 Page 2 evaluation criteria for instructional materials until July 1, 2015. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill has the following fiscal effects: 1)Develop science frameworks and evaluation criteria: Potential costs of up to $1.1 million to the CDE, including workload costs of up to $880,000 incurred over the 2.5 year process. 2)Cost pressure: Significant cost pressure for the SBE to adopt instructional materials in science, and for school districts to purchase new instructional materials. COMMENTS : Educational standards describe what students should know and be able to do in each subject in each grade. In California, the SBE adopts standards that may be used by local educational agencies (LEAs) for students, from Kindergarten through high school. 26 states, including California, have participated in the national development process of the Next Generation Science Standards facilitated by Achieve, Inc. Under current law, the SBE must adopt, modify, or reject the Next Generation Science Standards as presented by the SPI no later than November 30, 2013. These standards identify the particular science content that the state recommends students should know and be able to do within a course of study in science. While the academic content standards provide state direction on what should be taught, the frameworks provide direction as to how these standards should be taught It is within the discretion of each local education agency (LEA) to adopt a course of study that meets the unique needs of its community, but must meet the minimum requirements established by the state for grades 1-6, or 7-12, as appropriate. In adopting a course of study, LEAs look to the state-adopted academic content standards and the curriculum frameworks for guidance. When providing instruction in accordance with this course of study, teachers similarly refer to the academic content standards, the curriculum frameworks, and the instructional materials that are aligned to the content standards. Thus, in order to meaningfully implement the Next Generation Science SB 300 Page 3 Standards if adopted by the SBE in November, 2013, the SBE must be permitted to adopt frameworks and evaluation criteria for instructional materials aligned to these new standards. In the absence of this bill , the CDE could not begin work on preparing frameworks aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards or evaluation criteria for instructional materials aligned to these standards until July 1, 2015 which would likely result in a delay of adoption until at least 2017. The committee may wish to consider the fact that LEAs will face enormous pressure to adopt new instructional materials aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards when they become available. This will be on the heels of the adoption of mathematics instructional materials in March, 2014 and potentially the adoption of ELA instructional materials in 2015 or 2016 (SB 201, Liu). Such a quick timeline for adoption of three major subject areas will require a significant amount of funds, which could be compounded by the Fiscal Year 2013-14 budget for Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). LEAs currently receive about $2.5 billion for categorical programs that serve the general pupil population, instructional materials being an example of such a program. The LCFF eliminates these programs and their funding by excluding them from the base grant and using the funding for the supplemental grant. Districts with relatively few targeted pupils will lose much of this funding altogether. Districts with relatively large number of targeted pupils will receive the funds formerly associated with these programs in their supplemental grants. The fiscal impact of such a rapid adoption cycle is the concern raised by the Association of California School Administrators in their request for an amendment that articulates the intent of the Legislature that future adoptions be staggered. Related Legislation : SB 201 (Liu), pending in this committee, authorizes the SBE to adopt, by November 30, 2015, K-8 instructional materials that are aligned to the Common Core English Language Arts Standards and the Common Core-aligned English Language Development Standards. Previous Legislation : AB 1246 (Brownley), Chapter 668, Statutes of 2012, requires the SBE to adopt curriculum frameworks and evaluation criteria for instructional materials that are aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. SB 300 Page 4 SB 1200 (Hancock), Chapter 654, Statutes of 2012, extended the dates by which the SPI must present his/her recommendation to the SBE and the date by with the SBE must adopt, modify, or reject the recommendation. AB 250 (Brownley), Chapter 608, Statutes of 2011, requires the SBE to adopt curriculum frameworks and evaluation criteria for instructional materials that are aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. SB 300 (Hancock), Chapter 624, Statutes of 2011, requires the SPI and a group of science experts to recommend to the SBE, and the SBE to reject, modify, or adopt, science content standards using the Next Generation Science Standards as the basis for their deliberations. REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION : Support Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson (Sponsor) Association of California School Administrators (Support if Amended) California Federation of Teachers California Science Teachers Association Los Angeles Area of Chamber of Commerce Public Advocates Regional Economic Association Leaders (R.E.A.L.) Opposition None on file Analysis Prepared by : Jill Rice / ED. / (916) 319-2087