BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1278
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Date of Hearing: August 4, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 1278 (Wyland) - As Amended: August 2, 2010
Policy Committee: Education Vote:9-0
Urgency: Yes State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt a
revised curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for
instructional materials (IM) in history/social science in 2011.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)One-time GF administrative costs to the State Department of
Education (SDE), likely between $145,000 and $150,000. The
Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees on Education approved
$144,130 GF for the SDE to adopt the history/social science
curriculum framework.
Due to the enactment of AB 2 X4 (Evans), Chapter 2, Statutes
of 2009 (see below), the governor vetoed $705,000 (GF) for the
Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission
(CDSMC), which conducts the majority of the work associated
with IM adoptions. Specifically, the governor stated, "it is
unnecessary for the CDSMC to continue to advise the SBE on
content frameworks and IM adoptions for the next five years or
until an agreed-upon process is reestablished. This reduction
removes funding for unnecessary commission per diem and travel
as well as funding for SDE staff."
2)Potential GF/98 cost pressure, likely in the low millions, to
provide local education agencies (LEAs) with funding under the
Instructional Materials Funding and Realignment Program
(IMFRP) to purchase history/social science IM.
SB 1278
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AB 2 X4 (Evans), Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009, authorized LEAs
to utilize IMFRP funding for any education purpose it deems
fit. This authorization coupled with the suspension of the
requirement to purchase IM has lead LEAs to redirect IM
funding for other purposes. Also, many LEAs argue current
IMFRP funding levels do not fully cover the cost of purchasing
IM. With the enactment of Chapter 2, it is possible that LEAs
will need increased IMFRP funding in the 2013-14 fiscal year
to mitigate the redirection of IM funding during the budget
flexibility period. The governor's January proposed budget
provides $332.5 million for IMFRP, including a 19.81%
reduction.
COMMENTS
1)Background . Prior to the enactment of AB 2 X4 (Evans),
Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009 in July 2009 (see below), statute
required the SBE to adopt basic IM in the core academic
content areas (ELA, mathematics, history/social science, and
science) every six years for use in grades K-8. It also
established a schedule for the adoption of IM in other
subjects. Statute also required the SBE to adopt statewide
academically rigorous content standards in the core curriculum
areas. These content standards are implemented through the
curriculum frameworks, as adopted by SBE. The adopted IM must
be consistent with the criteria and standards of quality
prescribed in the adopted curriculum frameworks. The
development of curriculum frameworks is a multi-year process.
Also, the governing board of each school district maintaining
one or more high schools is authorized to adopt IM for use in
the high schools (grades 9-12) under its control.
AB 2 X4 (Evans), Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009, specified that
LEAs are not required to purchase IM through the 2012-13
fiscal year. Consistent with the non-purchasing requirement,
Chapter 2 also suspended the requirement for SBE to adopt IM
or conduct other procedures associated with adoption (i.e.,
adopting curriculum frameworks) until the 2013-14 school year.
SB 1278
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2)Purpose . The Legislature and the governor agreed to a
moratorium on the purchase and adoption of IM due to the
state's severe fiscal crisis. Many, however, argue that not
updating IM is a disservice to education. For example, various
Sikh organizations do not feel the current state
history/social science textbooks portray their culture fairly
and worked with the SBE to revise the curriculum framework. AB
2 X4 prevented the revised history/social science framework
from being adopted.
Prior to the enactment of AB 2 X4, the next history/social
science curriculum framework was scheduled for adoption in May
2010, with IM for this subject to be adopted in 2011. However,
this timeline is no longer relevant and the next adoption of
this framework has not been determined. According to the
author, "The curriculum framework provides guidance to
teachers on how they should teach students the standards, and
how IM should follow the guidelines to incorporate
standards-based instruction. [Prior to AB 2 X4,] the
Curriculum Commission was nearing completion of its revision
of the History/Social Science framework. That revision was
nearly completed (about 80%) and was due to be approved by the
SBE in 2010."
3)Similar legislation . AB 2069 (Carter), which was held on this
committee's suspense file in May 2010, established a timeline
for the adoption of IM, including history/social science.
Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)
319-2081