BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Alan Lowenthal, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 2592
AUTHOR: Furutani
AMENDED: March 29, 2012
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 13, 2012
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : Instructional Quality Commission membership.
SUMMARY
This bill adds a person representing career technical
education to the list of people that are to be considered
for membership on the Instructional Quality Commission.
BACKGROUND
Academic content standards define the knowledge, concepts
and skills that pupils should learn at each grade level.
Curricular frameworks serve as the blueprint for how to
implement the standards and provide guidance to publishers,
along with evaluation criteria, for the development of
instructional materials. The processes for the revision of
curricular frameworks and adoption of instructional
materials have been suspended since July 2009 and are
suspended until the 2015-16 school year. (EC � 60200.7)
Notwithstanding the suspension, current law requires the
development of frameworks specific to the common core
standards in English language arts and mathematics, and
evaluation criteria relative to supplemental instructional
materials that are aligned to the common core standards.
(EC � 60207 and � 60605.86)
The role of the Curriculum Development and Supplemental
Materials Commission (Curriculum Commission) was recently
revised, and renamed the Instructional Quality Commission,
to focus on the development of frameworks and professional
development opportunities relative to the common core
standards in English language arts and mathematics.
(EC � 33530, � 60204, and � 60207)
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Current law requires the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) to:
1) Coordinate the development of model curriculum
standards and for a career technical education course
of study. (EC � 51226)
2) Develop a curriculum framework, upon adoption of the
curriculum standards, that offers a blueprint for
implementation of career and technical education. The
SPI was required to work in consultation and
coordination with an advisory group. (EC � 51226.1)
Current law requires the SPI and the State Board of
Education (SBE) to consider for membership on the
Instructional Quality Commission people representing
subjects commonly taught in public schools, including:
1) English.
2) Social Sciences.
3) Foreign languages.
4) Science.
5) Mathematics.
6) Visual and performing arts.
7) Applied arts.
8) Conservation education. (EC � 33533)
Current law provides that the Instructional Quality
Commission is to consist of 18 members as follows:
1) A member of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker.
2) A member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Rules
Committee.
3) One public member appointed by the Speaker.
4) One public member appointed by the Senate Rules
Committee.
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5) One public member appointed by the Governor.
6) Thirteen public members appointed by the SBE upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction or members of the SBE. At least seven of
the thirteen members must be recognized authorities or
experienced practitioners in the subject matter. The
SBE must make its appointments in a manner that
ensures, at any one time, at least seven of the
members be current classroom teachers, or mentor
teachers, assigned to teach K-12. (EC � 33530)
ANALYSIS
This bill adds a person representing career technical
education to the list of people that are to be considered
for membership on the Instructional Quality Commission.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author,
"Membership on the Instructional Quality Commission is
comprised of persons representing subjects commonly
taught in schools. Career technical education is not
included in the list of subjects. It is important
that the membership of the Instructional Quality
Commission is representative of all subjects taught in
public schools in order to ensure the highest level of
curriculum standards. The inclusion of career
technical education is important in light of AB 1330
(Furutani, Ch. 621, 2011) which gives high school
students the option to complete a course in career
technical education to fulfill an existing high school
graduation requirement."
2) Appropriate ? Current law requires the Superintendent
of Public Instruction to coordinate the development of
career technical education standards, and the
development of a curriculum framework in consultation
and coordination with an advisory group. The
Instructional Quality Commission (formerly known as
the Curriculum Commission) did not have a role in the
development of the career technical education standard
or framework. While there is currently a lack of
connection between the Instructional Quality
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Commission and the career technical standards and
framework, the State Board of Education is likely to
adopt the common core college and career readiness
anchor standards (broader and provide more details
about common core standards) which could more closely
link the work of the Instructional Quality Commission
with career technical education.
3) Unnecessary ? This bill adds a person representing
career technical education to those who may be
considered for membership on the Instructional Quality
Commission. Current law requires the Superintendent
of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education
to consider for membership people representing
subjects commonly taught in schools and provides an
inclusive list of subject areas. That list does not
preclude consideration of people representing other
subjects taught in schools.
4) Recent appointments . In March 2012, the State Board
of Education approved the appointment of the 13 public
members for the revamped Instructional Quality
Commission. The full 18 member commission held its
first meeting on May 3-4, 2012. None of the current
members appear to represent career technical
education. Presumably, a current member must be
removed or replaced in order to appoint a career
technical education representative since the number of
commission members is established in law. Terms of
commission members vary; some members are appointed
for terms of two years, some for three years and some
for four years. The earliest a new member would be
appointed is in two years (unless a current member
steps down or is removed). Therefore, staff
recommends an amendment to specify that consideration
of a representative of career technical education
member is to occur during the next round of
appointments.
5) Fiscal impact . According to the Assembly
Appropriations Committee analysis, this bill imposes
minor, absorbable General Fund costs.
6) Related legislation . AB 1246 (Brownley) revised the
process for the adoption of K-8 instructional
materials to authorize school districts and require
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the Superintendent of Public Instruction, instead of
the Instructional Quality Commission, to recommend to
the State Board of Education instructional materials
for review and adoption. AB 1246 is pending in this
Committee.
SUPPORT
Association of California School Administrators
California School Boards Association
OPPOSITION
None on file.