BILL ANALYSIS �
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1200|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 1200
Author: Hancock (D)
Amended: 8/24/12
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 7-2, 4/25/12
AYES: Lowenthal, Alquist, Hancock, Liu, Price, Simitian,
Vargas
NOES: Blakeslee, Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Runner, Vacancy
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 5-2, 5/24/12
AYES: Kehoe, Alquist, Lieu, Price, Steinberg
NOES: Walters, Dutton
SENATE FLOOR : 26-13, 5/29/12
AYES: Alquist, Calderon, Corbett, Correa, De Le�n,
DeSaulnier, Evans, Hancock, Hernandez, Kehoe, Leno, Lieu,
Liu, Lowenthal, Negrete McLeod, Padilla, Pavley, Price,
Rubio, Simitian, Steinberg, Vargas, Wolk, Wright, Wyland,
Yee
NOES: Anderson, Berryhill, Blakeslee, Cannella, Dutton,
Emmerson, Fuller, Gaines, Harman, Huff, La Malfa,
Strickland, Walters
NO VOTE RECORDED: Runner
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Not available
SUBJECT : Common Core standards
SOURCE : State Superintendent of Public Instruction
CONTINUED
SB 1200
Page
2
DIGEST : This bill authorizes the Superintendent of
Public Instruction (SPI) to recommend, and the State Board
of Education (SBE) to adopt the Common Core college and
career readiness standards. This bill also authorizes the
review and modification of standards for 8th grade
mathematics, as specified.
Assembly Amendments (1) add language to make the bill
permissive,
(2) change the date from March 20, 2013, to July 30, 2013,
for recommendations by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction and changes the date from July 30, 2013, to
November 30, 2013, for adoption by SBE for the Science
Standards, (3) extend by four months the final
recommendations and final adoption for the inclusion in the
state's Science Standards, and
(4) make various technical changes.
ANALYSIS : The SBE adopted Common Core standards in
English language arts and mathematics on August 2, 2010.
At that time, the SBE adopted two different sets of
standards for grade 8 mathematics, one that is the common
core standards for grade 8 and one that is a combination of
common core grade 8 and Algebra I standards.
The SBE did not adopt the college and career readiness
anchor standards that complement the grade-specific Common
Core content standards. The anchor standards are broad and
the grade-specific standards provide more details. The SBE
does not have broad statutory authority to review, revise
or adopt academic content standards. The SBE was given the
authority, on a one-time basis, to adopt the existing
standards, including the common core standards in English
language arts and mathematics.
This bill authorizes the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) to recommend and SBE to approve,
modifications to the common core academic content standards
in mathematics adopted by SBE and modifies existing
deadlines relative to the revision and adoption of the
science content standards. Specifically, this bill:
CONTINUED
SB 1200
Page
3
1. Requires the SBE, if it modifies the common core
academic content standards in mathematics, to explain,
in writing, to the Governor and the Legislature the
reasons for modifying the standards, and requires the
SPI's recommendations and the SBE's actions to assist
schools in the implementation of the common core state
standards.
2. Requires the SPI, in consultation with the SBE, to
consult a group of experts in mathematics for purposes
of developing recommendations pursuant to this bill and
requires the SPI to ensure that the group of experts
includes, but is not limited to, individuals who are
teachers of mathematics and English language arts in
elementary and secondary schools, schoolsite principals,
administrators of school districts or county offices of
education, and university professors, and requires that
no less than one-half of the members of the group be
currently employed public school teachers.
3. Provides that the SPI and the SBE shall hold a minimum
of two public hearings pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open
Meeting Act in order for the public to provide input on
the modifications recommended.
4. Requires on or before March 30, 2013, the SPI to
recommend modifications to the mathematics standards to
the SBE, and the SBE to adopt, reject, or modify the
recommendations by that same date.
5. Stipulates that the modifications to the common core
academic content standards in mathematics shall ensure
all of the following:
A. The rigor of the state common core academic
content standards in mathematics is maintained so
that all high school graduates are prepared for
college and careers, as specified in the common core
academic content standards;
B. All of the common core academic standards
developed by the specified consortium or interstate
collaboration are adopted;
CONTINUED
SB 1200
Page
4
C. One set of standards is adopted at a grade level;
D. The content standards for algebra I are based upon
the common core standards for mathematics;
E. Redundant mathematics standards are eliminated;
F. The implementation of standards is improved;
G. Any technical issues in the standards are
resolved; and,
H. The modifications amount to no more than 15% of
the common core academic content standards.
6. Requires any modifications to the common core academic
content standards in mathematics made pursuant to this
bill be incorporated into the curriculum framework and
evaluation criteria for mathematics for the purpose of
adopting instructional materials in mathematics as
provided and makes this part of the bill operative only
if AB 1246 (Brownley) is enacted.
7. Authorizes the SPI to recommend and SBE to adopt the
college and career readiness (CCR) anchor standards
developed by Common Core State Standards Initiative
consortium and authorizes SBE to take action to resolve
any technical issues in the English language arts (ELA)
common core state standards.
8. Extends from March 30, 2013, to July 31, 2013, the
deadline by when the SPI is required to recommend
revised science standards to SBE.
9. Extends from July 30, 2013, to November 30, 2013, the
deadline by when SBE is required to adopt, reject, or
modify the recommended science content standards and
hold a public meeting for purposes of modifying the
standards, if SBE modifies them.
Comments
This bill authorizes the SPI to make recommendations for
and SBE to approve modifications to the recently-adopted
CONTINUED
SB 1200
Page
5
common core standards in ELA and mathematics.
Current law does not provide for a process for periodically
reviewing, updating, modifying or revising the academic
content standards. Although the ELA and math standards
were recently revised, the modification of these standards
was accomplished through legislation that directed a
one-time review for the adoption of the common core
standards through a very specific process. The adoption of
these standards was driven by California's attempt to
compete for a federal Race to the Top (RTTT) program grant
in 2009-2010, and therefore was a one-time activity and
only focused on ELA and math.
Common core state standards . Legislation enacted for
purposes of satisfying part of the criteria for the RTTT
program, SB 1X5 (Steinberg, Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009-10,
Fifth Extraordinary Session) established the Standards
Commission to develop and recommend to SBE academic content
standards in ELA and mathematics by July 15, 2010. SB 1X5
(Steinberg) required that at least 85% of these standards
be the common core academic standards developed by the
Common Core State Standards Initiative consortium sponsored
by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council
of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) or any associated or
related interstate collaboration and required the SBE to
adopt or reject the recommended standards by August 2,
2010. Per the requirements of SB 1X5 (Steinberg), the
Standards Commission submitted its recommendations to SBE
to adopt the common core state standards with additional
California-specific standards and these recommendations
were adopted by SBE on August 2, 2010.
The problem . The author argues that the adoption of the
common core standards resulted in some challenges. As an
example, the author notes that "California adopted two sets
of grade 8 math standards: (1) the common core grade 8
standards and (2) a set that combined elements of the
common core grade 8 and high school math standards with
California's own algebra standards. The Elementary and
Secondary Education Act is based on the premise that all
students in grades 1 through 8 are taught and assessed on
the same set of standards."
CONTINUED
SB 1200
Page
6
The author further states, "Several implementation issues
arise by California adopting a different set of grade 8
math standards from other participating states. For
example, instructional materials for use in California
would need to be different from those used by other states-
the unique additional standards may increase the costs of
those materials for our local school districts. In
addition, assessment consortia will be developing
assessments aligned to the Common Core standards and not
the variation adopted in California. This may result in
issues with our algebra standards and curriculum not being
aligned with our assessment and accountability system."
Having two sets of grade eight math standards may result in
misalignment with any common assessments that may be
adopted in the future, and may also result in challenges in
the practical implementation of having two different sets
of standards and expectations for students in the same
grade level. The difficulties with having two sets of
standards are widely recognized. For example, SB 140
(Lowenthal, Chapter 623, Statutes of 2011), which requires
the development of a list of supplemental instructional
materials to bridge the gap between current instructional
materials and the common core standards, specifically
excludes materials for 8th grade mathematics.
The second issue this bill seeks to resolve is to adopt the
CCR anchor standards that complement the grade-specific
common core content standards in ELA. The anchor standards
were left out of the original adoption of the common core,
even though the statute required the adoption of the common
core standards in their entirety. It is uncertain as to
why the anchor standards were not adopted. Some have
argued that the Standards Commission worked under a very
short timeline and did not have the time to consider the
anchor standards.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/28/12)
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
(source)
CONTINUED
SB 1200
Page
7
AFSCME
Association of California School Administrators
California School Boards Association
Los Angeles County Office of Education
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author, "The
National Governors Association and Council of Chief State
School Officers created the CCSS Initiative to design
academic standards that would prepare students for careers
and college after high school graduation. In August 2010,
the SBE adopted the Common Core Standards in
English/language arts and mathematics, with additions
designed to allow California schools to continue teaching
rigorous coursework. The additions included items such as
thesis statements, penmanship, and oral presentations.
However, the adoption of the CCSS did result in some
challenges. For example, California adopted two sets of
grade 8 math standards: (1) the Common Core grade 8
standards and (2) a set that combined elements of the
Common Core grade 8 and High School math standards with
California's own algebra standards. The Elementary and
Secondary Education Act is based on the premise that all
students in grades1 through 8 are taught and assessed, on
the same set of standards. Several implementation issues
arise by California adopting a different set of grade 8
math standards from other participating states. For
example, instructional materials for use in California
would need to be different from those used by other states
- the unique additional standards may increase the costs of
those materials for our local school districts. In
addition, assessment consortia will be developing
assessments aligned to the Common Core standards and not
the variation adopted in California. This may result in
issues with our algebra standards and curriculum not being
aligned with our assessment and accountability system.
This lack of alignment could result in future federal
findings on our federal grants, including Title I. If
California adopted only the Common Core grade 8 math
standards as the single set of standards, many of these
concerns would be alleviated."
PQ:m 8/28/12 Senate Floor Analyses
CONTINUED
SB 1200
Page
8
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****
CONTINUED