BILL ANALYSIS
SB 405
Page A
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 405 (Steinberg)
As Amended August 31, 2007
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :27-12
EDUCATION 7-3 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Mullin, Brownley, Coto, |Ayes:|Leno, Caballero, Davis, |
| |Eng, Hancock, Karnette, | |DeSaulnier, Huffman, |
| |Solorio | |Karnette, Krekorian, |
| | | |Lieu, Ma, Nava, Solorio, |
| | | |DeLeon |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Garrick, Huff, Nakanishi |Nays:|Walters, Emmerson, La |
| | | |Malfa, Nakanishi, Sharon |
| | | |Runner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Expands the requirements of the Middle and High School
Supplemental Counseling (MHSSC) program to include a review of a
pupil's career goals and the availability of academic and Career
Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, and to provide pupils
and their parents information on eligibility for admission to a
four-year institution of postsecondary education.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Provides that a school district participating in the MHSSC
program shall require each school within its jurisdiction that
enrolls pupils in grades 10 and 12 to develop a list of
coursework and experience necessary in order to assist pupils
that have not satisfied or who are not on track to satisfy the
curricular requirements for admission to the University of
California (UC) and the California State University (CSU).
2)States that participating districts shall require each school
within its jurisdiction that enrolls pupils in grade 7 to
develop a list of coursework and experience necessary to
assist pupils in grade 7 to begin to satisfy the curricular
requirements for admission to the UC and the CSU and requires
this list to be provided to the pupil and his or her parent.
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3)Includes language to resolve a chaptering out conflict with AB
347 (Nava) in the case both bills are enacted.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the MHSSC program to provide additional counseling
services to pupils in grades seven to 12, inclusive.
2)Provides that as a condition of receiving funds, the governing
board of each school district maintaining any of grades seven
to 12, inclusive, shall meet specified requirements and shall
submit an annual report as determined by the Superintendent of
Public Instruction (SPI).
3)Requires districts maintaining any of grades 7-12, inclusive,
to offer to all otherwise qualified pupils in those grade
levels a course of study that fulfills the requirements and
prerequisites for admission to California's public
institutions of postsecondary education.
4)Requires districts maintaining any of grades 7-12, inclusive
to offer to all otherwise qualified pupils a course of study
that provides an opportunity for pupils to attain entry-level
employment skills in business or industry upon graduation from
high school.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, General Fund/Proposition 98 cost pressure, likely
between $1 million and $2 million, to require additional duties
for high school counselors under the MHSSC program. The 2007-08
Budget Conference Committee report provides $208 million for
this program.
COMMENTS : A 2006 report titled, Removing the Roadblocks: Fair
College Opportunities for All California Students revealed that,
"African American, Latino, and American Indian students are
dramatically underrepresented at every point along the road to
meeting University of California admission requirements." The
report points out that one of the roadblocks is the fact that
African American and Latino students are less likely than other
SB 405
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students to receive college information and assistance.<1>
One of the recommendations the report makes to remove the
roadblocks to college is providing effective college counseling
and providing students and parents information about a student's
individual progress toward college eligibility. The report
states, "Schools need well-qualified counselors to regularly
assess whether students are on track to attain their goals and
provide counseling and encouragement. These supports would
start in middle schools and be provided by middle school
specialists."<2>
Furthermore, a report prepared by WestEd, A Statewide Assessment
of California's Career Technical Education System, recommended
creating stronger ties between CTE and "academic" counseling and
guidance. The report states, "ensuring that students have the
opportunity to speak with either counselors or guidance staff
before they select CTE courses and pathways can facilitate
appropriate decisions."
This bill modifies the existing MHSSC program to provide pupils
information and counseling on both college and careers.
The author states, "SB 405 will help ensure that public middle
and high school students in California are made aware not only
of state requirements for graduating from high school, but also
of what they need to succeed in pursuing their goals beyond
graduation. Under the status quo, too many public school
students do not get the information they need about college and
career technical preparation when it matters most. Too often,
students who lack information are low-income, black, Latino, or
English-language learners. SB 405 offers an important step
forward in fulfilling California's mission to equip all public
school students in the state with the tools they need to achieve
their fullest potential and life goals, including informed
choices about college and career."
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<1> Oakes, Jeannie, et. al. Removing the Roadblocks: Fair
College Opportunities for All California Students. University of
California/ All Campus Consortium for Research Diversity
(UC/ACCORD) and UCLA Institute for Democracy, and Education and
Access (UCLA/IDEA). 2006.
<2> Ibid.
SB 405
Page D
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avina / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0002759