BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 897
Page A
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 897 (Steinberg)
As Amended August 22, 2014
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :33-0
EDUCATION 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 13-0
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|Ayes:|Buchanan, Olsen, Chávez, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Gonzalez, Nazarian, | |Bradford, |
| |Weber, Williams | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| | | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to
consider whether and how to incorporate a specified social
studies framework into California's history-social science
framework and content standards, and requires specified adult
education courses and classes to distribute information and
include instruction on government and civic education.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires, when California's history-social science framework
is revised after July 1, 2015, the IQC to consider whether and
how to incorporate the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3)
Framework for Social Studies State Standards into California's
history-social science framework.
2)Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to consider
incorporating the C3 Framework for Social Studies State
Standards into the history-social science content standards,
when those standards are next revised any time after January
1, 2015.
3)Requires adult education courses in elementary and secondary
basic skills and classes for immigrants, provided pursuant to
the plans developed by regional consortia under the Adult
Education Consortium Program, to distribute basic information
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on American government and civics that includes, but is not
limited to, instruction on all of the following:
a) Federal, state, and local government;
b) The three branches of government;
c) The importance of civic engagement; and
d) Registering to vote.
4)Expresses the intent of the Legislature that, consistent with
the requirements for a diploma of graduation from high school
and the course of study for training in citizenship, students
enrolled in courses and classes within the Adult Education
Consortium Program, in which instruction in American
government and civics is appropriate, shall receive
instruction in American government and civics.
5)Includes language that relates to the History/Social Science
Framework amendments that will bring the language of this bill
into alignment with AB 1599 (Education Committee) of the
current legislative session, the education omnibus bill.
6)Joints this bill to the Education Omnibus bill, AB 1599, to
avoid chaptering out issues.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)Minor/absorbable costs to California Department of Education
(CDE) to incorporate civic education and voter education into
the history social-science framework. The 2014-15 Budget Act
provides $270,000 for CDE to finish the history-social science
framework and the science framework.
2)General Fund administrative cost pressure of approximately
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$170,000 to the CDE if the IQC decides to update the
history-social science content standards and frameworks to
incorporate the C3 Framework. General Fund/Proposition 98
(1988) cost pressure, in the hundreds of thousands, for local
education agencies to incorporate the C3 Framework into
classroom resources and professional development.
3)Potential General Fund/Proposition 98 costs, in the hundreds
of thousands, for school districts and community colleges to
distribute "basic information" on American government and
civics to students in every adult education course for
elementary and secondary basic skills, classes for immigrants
in citizenship and English as a second language (ESL) and
workforce preparation classes. CCCs and school districts are
not eligible for state reimbursement for this requirement
because the affected courses are not required to be taught.
COMMENTS : Non-Substantive changes to these sections have been
made in order to be consistent with language included in AB
1599, the Education Omnibus Bill. These changes address
chaptering out issues from the 2013 legislative year and include
language relating to the next revision of history-social science
framework, specifically, the input from civic learning experts,
the inclusion of curriculum that supports civic engagement, the
inclusion of voter education information, and legislative intent
language that makes clear the requirements of these sections may
be met by the framework process already being used by the CDE.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social
Studies State Standards
According to the National Council for the Social Studies, C3
Framework is the result of a three year state-led collaborative
effort, and was developed to serve two audiences: 1) for states
to upgrade their state social studies standards and for
practitioners, including local school districts, schools,
teachers; and 2) curriculum writers, to strengthen their social
studies programs.<1> Developed by the Council of Chief State
School Officers (CCSSO) in response to the advent of the
development and mass adoption of the Common Core State Standards
---------------------------
<1>http://www.socialstudies.org/c3 .
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for English language arts and mathematics, state and local
agencies expressed a need to the CCSSO for assistance as they
looked to upgrade existing social studies standards. The CCSSO
responded by assisting the National Council for the Social
Studies in developing the C3 Framework. The C3 Framework
focuses primarily on inquiry and concepts and guides the content
necessary for a rigorous social studies program.
The C3 Framework is not actually a set of standards; instead, it
is a framework that can accommodate specific content standards
chosen by California. California's existing History-Social
Science Standards are long lists of discrete topics to cover;
the C3 Framework moves toward shorter, more coherent, and more
demanding standards, similar to the structure of California's
Common Core State Standards in English language arts and
mathematics and California's Next Generation Science Standards.
The C3 Framework has separate provisions for the distinct
disciplines of economics, geography, history, and civics, but
integrates these disciplines into one coherent framework. The
C3 Framework is generally consistent with existing best
practices in social studies education; it is not a radical
reform. The C3 Framework encourages instruction that includes
interactive and intellectually demanding practices by teachers.
Civic Education for Adult Pupils. Adult education is provided
by a number of delivery systems, including school districts,
community colleges, public libraries, nonprofit and faith-based
organizations, prisons, and county offices of education. In
2008-09, adult education programs enrolled 1.2 million adult
learners in almost 300 adult schools throughout California.
Adult schools offer a number of programs, including Adult Basic
Education; ESL; High School Diploma or Adult Secondary
Education, including General Education Development
certification; and Citizenship Preparation.
Analysis Prepared by : Jill Rice / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0005239
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