BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 725|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 725
Author: Hancock (D)
Amended: 6/2/15
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 9-0, 4/22/15
AYES: Liu, Runner, Block, Hancock, Leyva, Mendoza, Monning,
Pan, Vidak
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/28/15
AYES: Lara, Bates, Beall, Hill, Leyva, Mendoza, Nielsen
SUBJECT: Pupil instruction and services: visual and
performing arts content standards
SOURCE: California Arts Education Association
California Music Educators Association
DIGEST: This bill requires the State Board of Education (SBE)
to adopt content standards in visual and performing arts by June
30, 2017, only if the SBE adopts a schedule for the regular
update of academic content standards in all subjects.
ANALYSIS: Existing law requires or authorizes the SBE to adopt
the following academic content standards:
1)The California Common Core Standards in English language arts
and mathematics were adopted on August 2, 2010. (Education
Code § 60605.8)
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2)English language development standards that are aligned with
the common core standards in English language arts in November
7, 2012. (Former EC § 60811.3)
3)A modification of the previously adopted common core standards
in mathematics in January 2013. (EC § 60605.11)
4)Revised Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards
on January 16, 2013. (EC § 51226)
5)The Next Generation Science Standards on September 4, 2013.
(Former EC § 60605.85)
6)English language development standards that are aligned with
the common core standards in mathematics and science.
Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to submit recommendations to the SBE by January 2015,
and requires the SBE to adopt updated standards by August 1,
2015. However, according to the California Department of
Education's (CDE) Web site, the panel of experts has just
recently been convened, and it is anticipated that the SPI
will provide recommendations to the SBE in July 2015; it is
unclear if adoption by the SBE expected later than the
statutory deadline of August 1, 2015. (EC § 60811.4)
7)The Instructional Quality Commission is required to consider
developing and recommending to the SBE standards in computer
science by July 31, 2019. (EC § 60605.4)
This bill:
1)Requires the SBE to adopt visual and performing arts content
standards only if the SBE adopts a schedule recommended by the
SPI for the regular update of academic content standards in
all subjects for which academic content standards have been
adopted by the SBE.
2)Requires the visual and performing arts standards to be adopted
pursuant to the following requirements:
a) Requires the SPI, in consultation with the SBE,
to convene a panel of visual and performing arts experts.
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b) Requires the SPI to ensure that members of the
expert panel represent the breadth of the visual and
performing arts and include, but is not limited to,
elementary and secondary visual and performing arts
teachers, school principals, school district or county
office of education administrators, and university
professors.
c) Requires the majority of the expert panel to be
made up of credentialed visual and performing arts
teachers.
d) Requires the SPI and expert panel to recommend
visual and performing arts content standards for adoption
to the SBE and use the National Core Arts Standards
developed by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards
as the basis for their deliberations.
e) Requires the SPI to hold at least two public
meetings in order for the public to provide input on the
visual and performing arts content standards.
3)Requires the SPI to submit the recommended visual and performing
arts standards to the SBE by January 30, 2017.
4)Requires the SBE, by June 30, 2017, to adopt, reject, or modify
the visual and performing arts standards submitted by the SPI.
5)Requires the SBE, if it modifies the visual and performing arts
standards, to provide written reasons for its modifications in
a public meeting, and requires the SBE to adopt its
modifications to the standards no sooner than the next
regularly scheduled public meeting of the SBE.
6)States that nothing in this bill is to be construed as mandating
an assessment of students in visual or performing arts.
7)States legislative findings and declarations relative to the
value of arts education.
8)Sunsets the provisions of this bill on January 1, 2018.
Background
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Academic content standards define the knowledge, concepts, and
skills that students should acquire at each grade level.
Curricular frameworks are the blueprint for implementing the
standards, and include criteria by which instructional materials
are evaluated.
Standards in several subject areas were adopted by the SBE
beginning in the late 1990s; standards in visual and performing
arts were adopted in January 2001. There is no statutory
authority for the review or updating of standards. A schedule
once existed for the review and update of frameworks and
instructional materials in many subject areas, but those
processes were suspended on July 28, 2009 due to budget
constraints. Specific authority has since been provided to
develop new standards in specific subjects (statutory authority
was also provided to develop frameworks and instructional
materials in some of these subjects).
Comments
Arts before computer science. Recently enacted legislation
requires the consideration of the development of content
standards in computer science, by
July 31, 2019. This bill requires the development and adoption
of standards in visual and performing arts by June 30, 2017.
High school graduation requirements include one course in visual
or performing arts, foreign language, or career technical
education. Standards for visual and performing arts are
outdated. Computer science is a newly-added subject area,
relative to academic content standards, and is not a stand-along
state required course required for high school graduation.
Another approach. Current legislation (AB 740, Weber) requires
the SPI, by January 1, 2017, to recommend to the SBE a schedule
for the regular update of academic content standards in all
subjects for which standards have been adopted by the SBE. AB
740 requires the schedule to be aligned to the eight-year cycle
of curriculum framework updates and instructional materials
adoptions that had been used by the CDE and SBE and remains in
statute.
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FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
To the extent the SBE adopts a schedule to regularly update
content standards, this bill creates costs to the CDE of $1.2
million General Fund over two years. This estimate includes
costs for the advisory committee as specified in this bill,
and for additional staff (5.7 positions) to support committees
and draft the standards.
Updating visual and performing arts content standards could
create a cost pressure in future years to update corresponding
curriculum frameworks, instructional materials, professional
development, and assessments.
SUPPORT: (Verified6/1/15)
California Art Education Association (co-source)
California Music Educators Association (co-source)
American Choral Directors Association
California Alliance for Arts Education
California Alliance for Jazz
California Band Directors Association
California Chapter of the American String Teachers Association
California Chapter of the Educational Theatre Association
California Dance Education Association
California Educational Theatre Association
California Federation of Teachers
California Orchestra Directors Association
California State PTA
California State University, Channel Islands, School of
Education
California Teachers Association
California Thespians
College Park High School Choir Program
El Cerrito High School, Visual Art Department Chair
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Livermore High School Theatre
Luna Dance Institute
Music Association of California Community Colleges
National Association for Music Merchants
Performing Arts Workshop
Quincy Jones Productions
Rancho Bernardo High School Instrumental Music Program
San Diego Music Studio
San Jose City College, Division of Humanities and Social
Science, Director of Dance
San Jose City College, Theatre Arts Department
Southern California Vocal Association
St. Patrick-St. Vincent High Schools
West Contra Costa Unified School District
World Projects
OPPOSITION: (Verified6/1/15)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to this bill's co-sponsor,
California Art Education Association, California's current
visual and performing arts standards were approved in 2001, and
in the past 15 years education has seen a major shift to problem
solving, creativity, critical thinking and visual learning.
Teachers need standards that reflect 21st Century learning
skills. California has creative industries that represent more
than $270 billion in our economy. These design, entertainment,
media, and technology sectors require employees with visual arts
skills and knowledge.
Prepared by:Lynn Lorber / ED. / (916) 651-4105
6/3/15 9:03:43
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