BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2491
Author: Blumenfield (D)
Amended: 8/6/12 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-2, 6/27/12
AYES: Lowenthal, Alquist, Liu, Price, Simitian, Vargas
NOES: Blakeslee, Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Runner, Hancock, Vacancy
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 5-2, 8/6/12
AYES: Kehoe, Alquist, Lieu, Price, Steinberg
NOES: Walters, Dutton
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 46-26, 5/3/12 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Pupil instruction: gifted and talented pupil
program:
standard for pupil identification
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the State Board of Education
(SBE), upon the next revision of specified criteria, to
adopt a standard for pupil identification to ensure the
identification procedures of an applicant school district
provide economically disadvantaged pupils and pupils of
varying cultural backgrounds with full participation in
Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs.
CONTINUED
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ANALYSIS : Existing law establishes the GATE program to
support unique opportunities for pupils who are identified
as gifted and talented and expresses the intent of the
Legislature that special efforts be made to ensure that
pupils from economically disadvantaged and varying cultural
backgrounds be provided with full participation in program.
Existing law requires the SBE to maintain regulations
governing the GATE program and requires the Superintendent
of Public Instruction (SPI) to apportion funds to school
districts that offer GATE programs approved by the SBE.
School districts that choose to offer a GATE program must
submit for approval by the SBE, an application in the "form
and manner" prescribed by the SPI. Existing law requires
applications to be approved or denied based on the quality
of the plan in accordance with criteria adopted by the SBE
and requires the SBE to review the criteria at least once
every four years. The SBE revised the current criteria,
Recommended Standards for Programs for Gifted and Talented
Students, in 2005. Generally speaking, applications are
approved for one, two, or three years. The SBE is
authorized to approve applications for a period of five
years if the program meets exemplary standards.
Existing law specifies that for the 2008-09 fiscal year
through the 2014-15 fiscal year, local educational agencies
that receive funds for specified categorical programs may
use the funding received during that time for any
educational purpose to the extent permitted by federal law.
Funding for GATE programs is included in this categorical
flexibility.
This bill requires the SBE, upon the next revision of
specified criteria, to adopt a standard for pupil
identification to ensure the identification procedures of
an applicant school district provide economically
disadvantaged pupils and pupils of varying cultural
backgrounds with full participation in GATE programs.
Comments
Gifted and Talented Education . GATE programs provide
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differentiated curriculum for gifted and talented students,
defined as those who have been identified as possessing
demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of
high performance capability. These abilities are defined
by each school district in accordance with regulations
established by the SBE. Current law requires each district
to use one or more of the following categories in defining
the capability: intellectual, creative, specific academic
or leadership ability, high achievement, performing and
visual arts talent, or other criterion that meets standards
set by the SBE. In 2008-09, the most recent year for which
enrollment data are available, there were approximately
533,000 GATE students in California.
School districts have the responsibility for the
development of a method for the identification of pupils as
gifted and talented. The method of identification must be
included in the district's application to operate a GATE
program. The application must demonstrate that the
district's identification procedures are equitable,
comprehensive, and ongoing. Applications must address the
nomination/referral process used in the program, describe
the assessment/identification process to ensure that
potentially gifted students are appropriately assessed for
identification as gifted students, and describe service
options available within the program and between other
educational programs. Applicants must also demonstrate
that placement is based on the assessed needs of the
student and is periodically reviewed.
GATE demographics . According to the Mid-Atlantic Equity
Center at George Washington University, the
disproportional representation of culturally,
linguistically, and ethnically diverse and low-income
students in gifted and talented programs has been a
persistent issue for many decades, with the percentage of
minority students constituting gifted and talented below
their percentage make up of total enrollment. California
enrollment data for 2008 appears to support this finding.
For example, Hispanic or Latino students constituted about
49% of the total pupil population in 2008, but represented
only 31% of GATE statewide enrollment.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
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Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, minor
workload increase for the SBE to adopt a new standard.
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/6/12)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees, AFL-CIO
California Association for the Gifted
Los Angeles County Office of Education
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author, it is
crucial that gifted children living in disadvantaged
situations receive an appropriate education. While many
parents can afford to provide extracurricular enrichment
for their gifted children, low-income parents often lack
the resources to provide these opportunities. The author
maintains that there is under-identification of gifted and
talented students who are poor or don't speak English and
notes that the focus on English language acquisition may
obscure the recognition of high intelligence or talent.
Further, cultural differences or poverty may make it
difficult for some parents to be actively involved in the
schools and help their children access appropriate
programs. Research shows that when gifted students are not
sufficiently challenged, their achievement levels drop and
they can be at risk for becoming an underachiever. The
goal of this bill is to improve underrepresented students'
access to GATE programs.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 46-26, 5/3/12
AYES: Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Block,
Blumenfield, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Butler,
Charles Calderon, Campos, Carter, Cedillo, Davis,
Dickinson, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Galgiani, Gatto,
Hayashi, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Lara, Bonnie
Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Mitchell, Monning, Pan, Perea, V.
Manuel P�rez, Portantino, Skinner, Solorio, Swanson,
Torres, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada, John A. P�rez
NOES: Achadjian, Bill Berryhill, Conway, Cook, Donnelly,
Beth Gaines, Garrick, Gorell, Grove, Hagman, Halderman,
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Harkey, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Logue, Mansoor, Miller,
Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Norby, Olsen, Silva, Valadao,
Wagner
NO VOTE RECORDED: Bonilla, Chesbro, Fletcher, Furutani,
Gordon, Hall, Roger Hern�ndez, Smyth
PQ:n 8/8/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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