BILL NUMBER: AB 2290 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 18, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Santiago
FEBRUARY 18, 2016
An act to amend repeal and add
Section 51212 60605.3 of the Education
Code, relating to pupil instruction.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2290, as amended, Santiago. Pupil instruction: foreign
language. world languages.
Existing law requires the State Board of Education, on or before
June 1, 2009, to adopt content standards for teaching foreign
languages in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to
recommendations developed by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction.
This bill would establish the World Language Content Standards
Advisory Committee, as provided. The bill would require the advisory
committee to recommend to the state board updated world language
content standards and a world language framework for teaching foreign
language in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, as provided.
The bill would require, if the state board adopts the content
standards and the framework, the state board to adopt the content
standards on or before September 1, 2017, and the framework on or
before January 1, 2018.
Existing law sets forth the intent and purpose of the Legislature
to encourage the establishment of programs of instruction in foreign
language, with instruction beginning as early as feasible for each
school district.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that provision.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 60605.3 of the
Education Code is repealed.
60605.3. (a) On or before June 1, 2009, the State Board of
Education shall adopt content standards, pursuant to recommendations
developed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, for teaching
foreign languages in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(b) The content standards shall support the goals of Section 51212
and subdivision (c) of Section 51220 by including all of the
following:
(1) A summary of the language goals which recognizes that
instruction may begin in elementary or secondary school.
(2) A description of individual language skills that should be
taught and attained at each level.
(3) Course content that is aligned with findings from research on
second language acquisition and education.
(4) Course content that is aligned with the admission requirements
for the California State University and the University of
California.
(c) The content standards may be used by school districts to
develop language programs and course assessments but are not
mandatory.
SEC. 2. Section 60605.3 is added to the
Education Code , to read:
60605.3. (a) (1) There is hereby established the World Language
Content Standards Advisory Committee.
(2) The advisory committee shall consist of 21 members, appointed
as follows:
(A) Ten members appointed by the Governor.
(B) Four members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(C) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(D) Three members appointed by the Superintendent.
(3) Members of the advisory committee shall serve at the pleasure
of the appointing authority.
(4) Not less than one-half of the members appointed by each of the
appointing authorities pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be current
public school elementary or secondary classroom teachers.
(5) The advisory committee shall do all of the following:
(A) Review the existing content standards established for teaching
foreign languages in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B) Considering the impact that the proposed updates will have
upon school districts and existing curricula and assessments, prepare
updates to the current content standards that reflect research
findings and best practices in the field and those that the advisory
committee deems necessary.
(C) Recommend to the state board the updated world language
content standards and a world language framework for teaching foreign
language in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(D) (i) Conduct at least two, and no more than six, in-person
meetings including opportunities for public input.
(ii) The advisory committee may convene additional meetings by
teleconference or the Internet.
(iii) Pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9
(commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3
of Title 2 of the Government Code), all meetings and hearings of the
advisory committee, whether live or by teleconference or Internet,
shall be open and available to the public.
(6) On or before ____, the advisory committee shall present its
recommended updated world language content standards to the state
board.
(7) Members of the advisory committee shall serve without
compensation, except for actual and necessary travel expenses and
costs of substitutes, if any, for the members of the advisory
committee who are school teachers.
(8) Upon completing this review and presenting the recommendations
to the state board, the terms of the members of the advisory
committee shall cease.
(b) The department shall post on its Internet Web site the updates
to the world language content standards proposed by the advisory
committee for a minimum of 60 days. The department shall include a
link by which members of the public may submit comments on the
proposed updates.
(c) No earlier than 60 days after the department posts the
proposed updated world language content standards on the department's
Internet Web site pursuant to subdivision (b) and no later than 120
days after receiving the recommended updated world language content
standards from the advisory committee, the state board shall do
either of the following:
(1) Adopt the content standards as proposed by the advisory
committee.
(2) Reject the content standards as proposed by the advisory
committee. If the state board rejects the content standards, it shall
provide a specific written explanation to the Superintendent, the
Governor, and the Legislature of the reasons why the proposed content
standards were rejected.
(d) If the state board adopts the world language content standards
pursuant to the recommendations developed by the advisory committee,
the state board shall do so on or before September 1, 2017.
(e) If the state board adopts the world language framework
pursuant to recommendations developed by the advisory committee, the
state board shall do so on or before January 1, 2018.
SECTION 1. Section 51212 of the Education Code
is amended to read:
51212. It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature to
encourage the establishment of programs in foreign language
instruction, with instruction beginning as early as feasible for each
school district.