BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 405
Author: Steinberg (D)
Amended: 6/4/07
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-1, 4/26/07
AYES: Scott, Alquist, Denham, Padilla, Simitian, Torlakson
NOES: Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Maldonado, Romero
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 10-6, 5/31/07
AYES: Torlakson, Cedillo, Corbett, Florez, Kuehl, Oropeza,
Ridley-Thomas, Simitian, Steinberg, Yee
NOES: Cox, Aanestad, Ashburn, Dutton, Runner, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Battin
SUBJECT : Curriculum opportunities
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill: (1) establishes the College and
Career Opportunity Act, a five-year pilot program
administered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to provide grants to eligible voluntary high schools
to improve academic and career technical education (CTE)
offerings, and (2) expands the duties of the County
Superintendent of Schools, as specified.
ANALYSIS : Under current law, eligibility for admission
to the University of California (UC) and the California
CONTINUED
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State University (CSU), in part, requires that students
complete a certain 15-minimum course taking pattern in
several different areas: history and social sciences;
English; math; laboratory science; language other than
English; visual and performing art; and college preparatory
elective. These minimum course requirements are commonly
referred to as the 'a-g' requirements.
Existing law also establishes for the SPI, with approval of
the State Board of Education, to develop an Academic
Performance Index (API) to measure the performance of
schools, especially the academic performance of pupils.
College and Career Opportunity Act
This bill establishes the College and Career Opportunity
Act, a five year pilot program to be administered by the
SPI. This program provides grants of $100 per pupil to up
to 100 voluntary participating high schools to provide
access to rigorous programs that combine college
preparatory academic and technical courses and college and
career counseling and work-based learning opportunities to
interested students. This program will sunset on January
1, 2014.
Significant provisions of this program:
1.Requires the SPI, by January 15, 2008, to identify and
invite to participate, as specified, high schools meeting
specified criteria including:
A. An API score of 1 - 5.
B. Fewer than 15 percent of its students complete
'a-g' requirements, as specified.
C. Fewer than 67 percent of total courses offered
meet 'a-g' requirements.
D. Fewer than 80 percent of the college preparatory
and CTE courses are taught by teachers with the
proper credential.
E. A majority of the students qualify for free or
reduced-price meals.
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2.Requires the SPI to select up to 100 participating highs
schools based on priorities specified in the bill and
allocate $100 per pupil to each participating school.
The bill states Legislative intent that no more than $25
million be appropriated for this purpose in any fiscal
year.
3.Requires the SPI to contract for an independent
evaluation and report to the Governor and Legislature by
August 1, 2010.
4.Specifies the activities for which participating schools
must use the $100 per pupil allocation to include:
A. Providing additional instructional time.
B. Increasing access to specified courses.
5.Prohibits funds provided under this program from being
used as a local match for any other state-funded
outreach, academic achievement or college preparation
program.
6.Requires the Secretary for Education to seek private
partners to match state funding. This bill creates the
Fair Competition for College and Career Fund in the State
Treasury for receipt of any such funds.
Other Provisions of the Bill
1.Expands the duties of the county superintendent of
schools (CSS) related to middle and high schools in the
decile one to three range to include:
A. Reporting to a school district on the availability
to pupils in grades 7-12 of a course of study which
fulfills the 'a-g' requirements.
B. Determining for those schools that do not offer an
'a-g' course of study as prescribed in subsection 'a'
above if any of the following deficiencies exist:
(a) Failure to provide sufficient 'a-g' courses.
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(b) Failure to provide appropriately credential
teachers.
(c) Failure to provide sufficient pupil
instructional support.
(d) Failure at the middle school level, as
specified.
C. Offer assistance to the school consistent with one
or more of the following:
(a) Develop and report a plan for increasing
course availability.
(b) Offer management assistance and counselor
staff development.
(c) Recommend specified courses for schools with
native speakers of languages other than English.
(d) Recommend use of a personnel management
assistance team, as established under existing law,
to assist the school and school district to address
shortages of appropriately credentialed teachers.
(e) Develop and report on a plan regarding
instructional support.
(f) Preserve specified reports.
2.Requires, to the extent funds are appropriated, the SPI
to annually report to the State Board of Education on
compliance by high schools with specified 'a-g' course
offering requirements. The bill directs the actions the
SPI is to take for schools failing to meet these
requirements including:
A. Assigning the County Office Fiscal Crisis and
Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) to conduct a
specified review and provide technical assistance.
The bill also requires the SPI to work with district
staff.
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B. Reporting to the Legislature, as specified.
3.Requires school districts which maintain high schools to
offer courses of study which, at a minimum, prepare
students for both admission to college and for work
through career technical education training. Current law
requires separate courses of study for college admission
or career technical training.
4.Specifies the criteria by which a school district
offering grades 7-12 shall be assessed to be in
compliance with an existing provision of current law
which requires these districts to offer a course of
study which fulfills the UC 'a-g' requirements.
5.Revises the factors by which the Academic Performance
Index (API) for high school is computed to include the
percent of graduates who complete, as specified, 'a-g'
coursework and career technical coursework.
6.Repeals existing law which allows 11th or 12th grade
students to choose, with written parental consent, to
follow either a college preparatory curriculum or a
career preparatory program.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee analysis:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2007-08 2008-09
2009-10 Fund
CCOP $25,000
$25,000 $25,000 General*
Local mandate on $200$200 $200
General*
County superintendents
SDE implementation $500 $200
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$200 General
*Counts toward meeting the Proposition 98 minimum funding
guarantee
The bill specifies that no more than $25 million would
annually be appropriated for this pupose.
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/4/07)
Applied Research Center
American Civil Liberties Union
AsianPacific American Legal Center
California Chamber of Commerce
California Healthcare Institute
California State University
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco
Bay Area
Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
NC:do 6/5/07 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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