BILL NUMBER: SB 359	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 23, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 6, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Mitchell
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2015

   An act to add Section 51224.7 to the Education Code, relating to
pupil instruction.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 359, as amended, Mitchell. California Mathematics Placement Act
of 2015.
   (1) Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and
secondary education in this state, and authorizes local educational
agencies throughout the state to provide instruction to pupils.
   This bill would enact the California Mathematics Placement Act of
2015. The bill would require each  governing board of a 
local educational agency, as defined, serving pupils in grade 8 or 9,
or both, to  develop   develop,  
adopt in a regularly scheduled   public meeting,  and
implement a fair, objective, and transparent  statewide
 mathematics placement policy with specified elements. The
bill would further require each local educational agency to ensure
that its mathematics placement policy is available to each pupil and
his or her parent or legal guardian and is posted prominently on its
Internet Web site. By imposing additional requirements on local
educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local
program.
   (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Pupil achievement in mathematics is important to prepare
pupils for college and their future careers, especially those careers
in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM).
   (b) A pupil's 9th grade math course placement is a crucial
crossroads for his or her future educational success. Misplacement in
the sequence of mathematics courses creates a number of barriers and
results in pupils being less competitive for college admissions,
including admissions at the California State University and
University of California.
   (c) The most egregious examples of mathematics misplacement occur
with successful pupils and, disproportionately, with successful
pupils of color. These successful pupils are achieving a grade of "B"
or better, or are testing at proficient or even advanced proficiency
on state assessments. Nevertheless, they are held back to repeat 8th
grade mathematics coursework rather than advancing to the next
course in the recommended mathematics course sequence.
   (d) Mathematics misplacement has far-reaching impacts on a pupil's
confidence, general knowledge of mathematical concepts, and high
school experience, and may also impact the college career
opportunities available to the pupil.
   (e) New research shows that it is less common for pupils of color,
even high-achieving pupils of color, to reach calculus by grade 12
compared to their white and Asian peers.
   (f) All pupils, regardless of race or ethnic background, deserve
an equal chance to advance in mathematics.
   (g) With the shift towards implementation of the Common Core State
Standards for Mathematics, it is particularly important for all
pupils to have access to high-quality mathematics programs that meet
the goals and expectations of these standards.
   (h) It is crucial for teachers and guidance personnel to advise
pupils and parents on the importance of accurate mathematics course
placement and its impact on future college eligibility so pupils may
take each course in the mathematics course sequence.
   (i) California faces a looming shortage of college-educated
workers in an increasingly competitive global economy.
   (j) A policy for correct mathematics placement must be addressed
in order to ensure a fair process and chance of success for all
pupils.
  SEC. 2.  Section 51224.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   51224.7.  (a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the
California Mathematics Placement Act of 2015.
   (b) Each  governing board of a  local educational agency
serving pupils in grade 8 or 9, or both, shall  develop
  develop, adopt in a regularly scheduled public
meeting,  andimplement a fair, objective, and transparent
 statewide  mathematics placement policy that does
all of the following:
   (1) Systematically takes current academic objective measures into
consideration, such as statewide assessments, pupil grades, and
diagnostic placement tests.
   (2) Includes multiple progress checkpoints throughout the academic
year to permit reevaluation of individual pupil progress, including
at least one checkpoint within the first three months of the academic
year.
   (3) Requires examination of pupil placement data, at least
annually, to ensure that there is no disproportionate impact in the
course placement of pupils by race,  gender,  ethnicity, or
socioeconomic background. The local educational agency shall report
the aggregate results of this examination to the governing board of
the local educational agency and prominently post the examination
results on its Internet Web site. This report may be included as part
of the local educational agency's accountability report of its local
control and accountability plan.
   (4) Offers clear and immediate recourse for each pupil and his or
her parent or legal guardian who questions the pupil's placement.
   (c) Each local educational agency shall ensure that its
mathematics placement policy is available to each pupil and his or
her parent or legal guardian and is posted prominently on its
Internet Web site.
   (d) For purposes of this section, "local educational agency" means
county office of education, school district, state special school,
or direct-funded charter school as described in Section 47651.
  SEC. 3.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.