BILL NUMBER: SB 300	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 26, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 28, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hancock

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2011

   An act to add  Sections 60200.8 and 60605.85 to 
 and repeal Section 60605.85 of  the Education Code,
relating to pupil instruction.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 300, as amended, Hancock. Pupil instruction: instructional
materials: content standards. 
   (1) Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt
basic instructional materials for use in kindergarten and grades 1 to
8, inclusive, for governing boards, as defined, and authorizes the
state board to establish criteria for that purpose. Existing law sets
forth a schedule for the submission of instructional materials to
the state board for adoption. Notwithstanding this schedule, existing
law prohibits the state board from adopting instructional materials
or following the procedures related to that adoption until the
2015-16 school year. Existing law requires the Curriculum Development
and Supplemental Materials Commission to recommend curriculum
frameworks for adoption by the state board and develop criteria for
evaluating instructional materials.  
   This bill would authorize the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to complete the public review process of the draft version of the
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials in history-social science that was approved for public
review on July 17, 2009, by the commission, modify that framework and
criteria based upon public comment, and submit the revised
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials in history-social science to the state board for approval.
The bill would require the state board to consider the adoption of a
revised curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for
instructional materials in history-social science by June 30, 2012.
 
   (2) Existing 
   Existing  law, operative until July 1, 2011, and to be
repealed on January 1, 2014, requires the State Board of Education to
adopt statewide academic content standards and performance
standards, based on the recommendation of the Commission for the
Establishment of Academic Content and Performance Standards and the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, respectively. Existing law
authorizes the state board to modify any proposed content standard or
performance standard prior to its adoption.
   This bill would  establish the Academic Content Standards
Commission for Science consisting of 9 appointed members, as
specified. The bill would require the commission to make
recommendations to modify, revise, and update the science content
standards and submit the recommendations to the state board by
January 1, 2013. The bill would require the state board to either
adopt or reject the science content standards on or before June 30,
2013. The bill also would require the Superintendent and the state
board to present to the Governor and appropriate policy and fiscal
committees of the Legislature a schedule and implementation plan for
integrating the science content standards adopted into the state
educational system   require the state board to adopt
science content standards pursuant to specified requirements. The
bill would require the Superintendent to convene a group of science
experts with whom the Superintendent would be required to recommend
  science content standards for adoption to the state board.
The bill would require the Superintendent to hold at least 2 public
meetings to provide public input on the science content standards.
The bill would require   the Superintendent to present the
recommended science content standards to the state board by March 30,
2013, and would require the state board to adopt, reject, or modify
those standards, as specified, by July 30, 2013. The bill would
require the Superintendent and the state board to present to the
Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the
Legislature a schedule and implementation plan for integrating the
adopted science content standards into the state educational system.
The bill would repeal these provisions on July 1, 2014  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) It is widely acknowledged that California has the eighth
largest economy in the world.
   (b) California must develop scientifically and technologically
literate citizens in order to maintain our edge in the world economy.

   (c) The state's current science content standards do not include
any mention of biotechnologies or nanotechnologies, and they do not
require pupils to learn about environmental issues or the fact that
Pluto is no longer considered a planet.
   (d) The state's science  and history-social science
 content standards were developed in 1998 and are now 13
years old.
   (e) There is nothing in current law that requires science 
and history-social science  content standards to be
reviewed and updated. 
   (f) Ever-changing historical trends, economic conditions, cultural
exchanges, and demographics have created a greater need than ever
before for understanding the foundational ideas and philosophy of our
country and the world.  
   (g) The goals of educating pupils in history-social science fall
into the following three broad categories:  
   (1) Knowledge and cultural understanding, which includes
incorporating learning from history, the other humanities, geography,
and the social sciences.  
   (2) Demographic understanding and civic values, which includes
incorporating an understanding of our national identity,
constitutional heritage, civic values, and rights and
responsibilities.  
   (3) Skills attainment and social participation, which includes
incorporating basic study skills, critical thinking skills, and
participating skills that are essential for effective citizenship.
 
   (h) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a schedule
and process for the review and revision, as necessary, of the state's
science and history-social science content standards. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 60605.85 is added to the 
 Education Code   , to read:  
   60605.85.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the state board
shall adopt science content standards pursuant to the following
requirements:
   (1) The Superintendent, in consultation with the state board,
shall convene a group of science experts. The Superintendent shall
ensure that the members of the group of science experts include, but
are not limited to, individuals who are elementary and secondary
science teachers, schoolsite principals, school district or county
office of education administrators, and university professors. The
Superintendent and the group of science experts shall recommend
science content standards for adoption to the state board and shall
utilize the Next Generation Science Standards as the basis for their
deliberations and recommendations to the state board.
   (2) The Superintendent shall hold a minimum of two public meetings
pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing
with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2
of the Government Code) in order for the public to provide input on
the science content standards that would be recommended pursuant to
paragraph (1).
   (3) The Superintendent shall present the recommended science
content standards to the state board on or before March 30, 2013.
   (4) On or before July 30, 2013, the state board shall adopt,
reject, or modify the science content standards presented by the
Superintendent.
   (5) If the state board modifies the science content standards
presented by the Superintendent, it shall provide written reasons for
its modifications in a public meeting. The state board shall adopt
its modifications to the science content standards at a subsequent
public meeting held no later than July 30, 2013. The public meetings
required by this paragraph shall be held pursuant to the Bagley-Keene
Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of
Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

   (b) The Superintendent and the state board shall present to the
Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the
Legislature a schedule and implementation plan for integrating the
science content standards adopted pursuant to this section into the
state educational system.
   (c) This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2014,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before July 1, 2014, deletes or extends that date. 

  SEC. 2.    Section 60200.8 is added to the
Education Code, to read:
   60200.8.  Notwithstanding Section 60200.7 and in order to expedite
the time and minimize the cost of the adoption process, by June 30,
2012, the state board shall consider the adoption of a revised
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials in history-social science. The Superintendent may complete
the public review process of the draft version of the curriculum
framework and evaluation criteria for instructional materials in
history-social science that was approved for public review on July
17, 2009, by the commission, modify that framework and criteria based
upon public comment, and submit the revised curriculum framework and
evaluation criteria for instructional materials in history-social
science to the state board for approval.  
  SEC. 3.    Section 60605.85 is added to the
Education Code, to read:
   60605.85.  (a) The Academic Content Standards Commission for
Science is hereby established. The commission shall consist of nine
members, to be appointed as follows:
   (1) Three members appointed by the Governor.
   (2) Two members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
   (3) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
   (4) Two members appointed by the Superintendent.
   (b) Members of the commission shall serve at the pleasure of the
appointing authority.
   (c) Not less than half of the members appointed by each of the
appointing authorities pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be current
public school elementary or secondary classroom teachers.
   (d) Pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9
(commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3
of Title 2 of the Government Code), each meeting or hearing of the
commission shall be open and available to the public.
   (e) The commission shall make recommendations to the state board
to modify, revise, and update the science content standards adopted
pursuant to Section 60605, and shall submit the recommendations to
the state board on or before January 1, 2013.
   (f) On or before June 30, 2013, the state board shall do either of
the following:
   (1) Adopt the science content standards as proposed by the
commission.
   (2) Reject the science content standards as proposed by the
commission. If the state board rejects the standards it shall provide
a specific written explanation to the Superintendent, the Governor,
and the Legislature of the reasons why the proposed standards were
rejected.
   (g) The Superintendent and state board shall present to the
Governor and to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the
Legislature a schedule and implementation plan for integrating the
science content standards adopted pursuant to this section into the
state educational system.