BILL NUMBER: SB 1248	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lara

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

   An act to add and repeal Article 3 (commencing with Section 32320)
of Chapter 3 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education
Code, relating to public schools.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1248, as introduced, Lara. Academic achievement gap: task
force.
   Existing law establishes the Public Schools Accountability Act of
1999 to, among other things, ensure that each child in California
receives a high quality education consistent with all statewide
content and performance standards, as specified.
   This bill would require the State Department of Education to
establish a blue ribbon task force on the achievement gap in
California's public schools, to be comprised of 10 members appointed
by the Senate Committee on Rules, the Speaker of the Assembly, and
the department, as specified. The bill would require the task force,
on or before January 1, 2017, to report specified information to the
Legislature and the department relating to closing the academic
achievement gap between pupils of color and their peers. The bill
would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2019.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Article 3 (commencing with Section 32320) is added to
Chapter 3 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code,
to read:

      Article 3.  Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Achievement Gap


   32320.  (a) A blue ribbon task force on the achievement gap in
California's public schools shall be established by the department,
to be comprised of 12 members appointed as follows:
   (1) Four members shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on
Rules.
   (2) Four members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly.
   (3) Two members shall be appointed by the department.
   (b) The task force shall issue a written report that contains
specific findings and recommendations relating to all of the
following:
   (1) Closing the academic achievement gap between pupils of color
and their peers.
   (2) Improving high school and graduation rates for pupils of
color.
   (3) Evaluating the impact of common core academic content
standards on the academic performance of pupils of color.
   (4) Addressing the college enrollment gaps between pupils of color
and their peers.
   (c) (1) On or before January 1, 2017, the task force shall submit
a report to the Legislature and the department on the recommendations
developed pursuant to subdivision (b).
   (2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795
of the Government Code.
   (d) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
article is repealed on January 1, 2019.