BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Alan Lowenthal, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 140
AUTHOR: Lowenthal
INTRODUCED: January 31, 2011
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: March 16, 2011
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : Instructional Materials: Common Core Standards.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a streamlined process for the
state-level adoption of instructional materials that are
aligned with the common core academic content standards, and
expands the authority of local school boards to adopt
instructional materials to include K-8 schools.
BACKGROUND
Pursuant to Education Code Section 60605.8, the State Board
of Education (SBE) adopted common core academic content
standards in English language arts and mathematics on August
2, 2010.
California's currently suspended process of adopting
instructional materials begins with the review and update of
the curricular framework in each subject areas. Frameworks
are the blueprints for implementing the academic content
standards and provide guidance to publishers for the
development of instructional materials. The framework
process typically takes 24 months from initiation to approval
by the SBE. Once the framework for a particular subject is
adopted by the SBE, the instructional material adoption
process begins, which includes submissions from publishers,
review by the Instructional Materials Advisory Reviewer and
Content Review Expert (both are appointed by the SBE),
Curriculum Commission hearings and SBE adoption. The
adoption process typically takes 30 months. (Education Code �
60200)
The processes for reviewing frameworks and adopting
instructional materials has been suspended since July 2009,
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pursuant to AB 2 of the Fourth Extraordinary Session (Chapter
2, July 2009), which among other things, prohibited the SBE
from reviewing frameworks and adopting instructional
materials until the 2013-14 school year. AB 2 also extended
to the 2012-13 fiscal year the suspension of the requirement
to purchase instructional materials within any specific
period of time following adoption of those materials by the
SBE. (EC � 60200.7 and 60422.1)
Article IX, Section 7.5 of the California Constitution states
"The State Board of Education shall adopt textbooks for use
in grades one through eight throughout the State, to be
furnished without cost as provided by statute."
Current law requires the governing board of school districts
that have at least one high school to adopt instructional
materials for use in their high schools. Only instructional
materials of those publishers who comply with specified
requirements (basic academic and social content reviews, and
requirements for publishers) may be locally adopted.
(Education Code � 60400)
ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a streamlined process for the
state-level adoption of instructional materials that are
aligned with the common core academic content standards, and
expands the authority of local school boards to adopt
instructional materials to include K-8 schools.
Specifically, this bill:
1) Requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to
develop a list, by July 1, 2012, of supplemental
instructional materials that are aligned with the common
core academic standards in English language arts and
mathematics.
2) Requires the supplemental instructional materials to
provide a bridge between the common core standards and
the standards-aligned instructional materials currently
being used in schools.
3) Requires the State Board of Education, by August 1,
2012, to do either of the following:
a) Adopt the instructional materials as proposed
by the CDE.
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b) Reject the instructional materials as proposed
by the CDE, and if rejected, provide a specific
written explanation to the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the Governor, and the Legislature of
the reasons why the proposed materials were
rejected.
4) Authorizes school district governing boards (K-12) to
adopt instructional materials other than those adopted
by the State Board if the governing board determines
that other materials are aligned with the common core
standards and meet the needs of the pupils in the
district.
5) Prohibits local governing boards from adopting any
instructional materials that do not comply with existing
requirements for locally adopted materials for grades
9-12 (basic academic and social content reviews, and
requirements for publishers).
6) Requires the State Board and school district governing
boards, prior to adopting instructional materials, to
review the materials for academic content, social
content, and instructional support to teachers and
pupils. Materials must meet required program criteria
for grade-level programs, intervention programs, and
English learners and must include materials for use by
teachers.
7) Requires the CDE to maintain on its website a portal for
school districts to share information about
instructional materials that are aligned with the common
core academic content standards.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Purpose of the bill . According to the author,
"California has adopted the common core standards in
English and math but has no process in place for the
development of instructional materials that are aligned
to the common core standards. Development of curricular
frameworks, instructional materials, professional
development and assessments will be time consuming and
will require significant resources. Current law
authorizes school districts serving grades 9-12 to adopt
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their own instructional materials but materials for K-8
must be adopted by the State Board of Education. It's
possible that a new assessment will be implemented
during the 2014-15 school year; California's schools
need to prepare pupils well in advance of any assessment
that is linked to the common core standards. SB 140
provides school districts with maximum flexibility to
meet the instructional needs of their students."
2) Locally adopted instructional materials . The State
Board of Education (SBE) is required to adopt
instructional materials for grades K-8. School
districts adopt instructional materials for grades 9-12
but do not have the authority to adopt their own choices
of materials for K-8. This bill expands the authority
of school districts to adopt instructional materials to
include K-8, following the same process currently used
for the adoption of high school instructional materials.
This bill also requires the SBE to adopt (or reject)
instructional materials to provide more options to
districts that either cannot or do not wish to conduct a
local adoption.
Additionally, there is no process in place for the state to
develop frameworks and instructional materials that are
aligned to the common core standards. Considering the
lack of a state-level process for the adoption of
instructional materials, and that the process currently
used for the adoption of high school instructional
materials has some accountability, it may be expedient
to allow school districts to adopt instructional
materials for all grades, at least until a new process
is developed and in place.
3) What about frameworks ? Curricular frameworks are the
basis for the development of instructional materials by
providing guidance to publishers, including specific
criteria by which materials will be evaluated for
possible adoption. Frameworks also give guidance to
teachers on instructional strategies (i.e. use of
hands-on instruction). The SBE adopted the common core
standards in English language arts and mathematics but
the framework review process has been suspended until
the 2013-14 school year. Will publishers have enough
guidance to develop instructional materials without
updated frameworks? Staff notes that many states do not
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have curricular frameworks and do not adopt
instructional materials at the state level. It is
unclear whether the lack of curricular frameworks will
create a barrier to publishers relative to the
submission of instructional materials that are aligned
to the common core standards.
4) Efforts already underway . The California Department of
Education's (CDE) website includes a compilation of
subject-matter curriculum, including information about
the common core standards, organized by individual grade
levels (grades K-5). The CDE's website also includes a
link to a grade level curriculum webinar series. The
California Office to Reform Education, a consortium of
seven school districts, has begun work to implement the
common core standards through the development of
instructional materials, professional development, and
assessments.
5) Related legislation .
AB 250 (Brownley) establishes a process for
the implementation of the common core academic
content standards by developing and adopting
curriculum frameworks, instructional materials, and
professional development opportunities that are
aligned to the common core academic content
standards and are appropriate for all pupils. AB
250 also extends the operative date of the STAR
assessment system by one year, to July 1, 2014. AB
250 is pending in the Assembly Education Committee.
SB 613 (Alquist) requires at least one-half
of instructional materials adopted by the State
Board of Education or a school district governing
board to be open-source, which is defined as
materials in a digital format and free to view
online. SB 613 is pending in this Committee.
AB 124 (Fuentes) establishes the English
Language Development (ELD) Standards Advisory
Committee for the purpose of alignment with the
common core standards in English language arts. AB
124 is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly
Education Committee on March 16, 2011.
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SUPPORT
Alturas Elementary School
Association of California School Administrators
California School Boards Association
Los Angeles Unified School District
Modoc Middle School
Riverside County School Superintendents' Association
Rowland Unified School District
State Line Elementary School
An individual
OPPOSITION
None on file.