BILL NUMBER: SB 359 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 16, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 24, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 2, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 23, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 6, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Senator Mitchell
(Coauthors: Senators Beall and Hancock)
(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 governing boards or bodies of
local educational agencies, as defined, serving pupils in grade 8 or
9, or both, that do not have a mathematics placement policy as of
January 1, 2016, to develop, adopt in a regularly scheduled public
meeting, and implement a fair, objective, and transparent mathematics
placement policy for pupils in grade 9 with specified
elements. elemen ts, and would
authorize governing boards or bodies of local educational agencies
serving pupils who are transitioning between elementary and middle
school or elementary and junior high school to develop and implement
a mathematics placement policy for these pupils, as applicable, with
these specified elements. The bill would further require each
governing board or body of a local educational agency to
ensure that its mathematics placement policy 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) Placement in appropriate mathematics courses is critically
important for a pupil during his or her middle and high school years.
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
race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic 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) Governing boards or bodies of local educational
agencies serving pupils in grade 8 or 9, or both, that do not have a
mathematics placement policy as of January 1, 2016, shall develop,
adopt in a regularly scheduled public meeting, and implement a fair,
objective, and transparent mathematics placement policy for
pupils in grade 9 that does all of the following:
(1) Systematically takes multiple objective academic measures
of pupil performance into consideration, such as
year-end grade 8 assessments, pupil grades, and coursework.
consideration. For purposes of this paragraph, "objective
academic measures" means measures, such as statewide mathematics
assessments, including interim and summative assessments authorized
pursuant to Section 60640, placement tests that are aligned to
state-adopted content standards in mathematics, classroom assignment
and grades, and report cards.
(2) Includes at least one placement checkpoint within the first
month of the academic school year to
ensure accurate placement and permit reevaluation of individual pupil
progress.
(3) Requires examination of aggregate pupil placement data
annually to ensure that there is no disproportionate impact
in the course placement of pupils by race, gender, ethnicity, or
socioeconomic background. pupils who are qualified to
progress in mathematics courses based on their performance on
objective academic measures selected for inclusion in the policy
pursuant to paragraph (1) are not held back in a disproportionate
manner on the basis of their race, ethnicity, gender, or
socioeconomic background. The local educational agency shall
report the aggregate results of this examination to the governing
board or body 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 timely recourse for each pupil and his or her
parent or legal guardian who questions the pupil's placement.
(5) For nonunified school districts, addresses the consistency of
mathematics placement policies between elementary and high school
districts.
(c) Governing boards or bodies of local educational agencies
serving pupils who are transitioning between elementary and middle
school or elementary and junior high school may develop and implement
a mathematics placement policy for these pupils, as applicable, that
satisfies paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b).
(c)
(d) Each governing board or body of a local
educational agency shall ensure that its mathematics placement policy
is posted prominently on its Internet Web site.
(d)
(e) 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. charter school.
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.