BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Alan Lowenthal, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 1324
AUTHOR: Wyland
INTRODUCED: February 23, 2012
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: April 25, 2012
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : Science curriculum.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) and the State Board of Education (SBE)
to consider ways to increase the number of scientists and
engineers, and requires the science framework and standard
to be reviewed and revised.
BACKGROUND
Academic content standards define the knowledge, concepts,
and skills that pupils should acquire at each grade level.
Curricular frameworks are the blueprint for implementing
the standards, and include criteria by which instructional
materials are evaluated.
The processes for reviewing frameworks and adopting
instructional materials have been suspended since July 28,
2009. The State Board of Education (SBE) is specifically
prohibited from reviewing frameworks and adopting
instructional materials until the 2015-16 school year.
(Education Code � 60200.7)
The science standard was adopted in 1998. None of
California's academic content standards have ever been
revised (other than the recent adoption of common core
standards in English language arts and math). Current law
requires the SBE to adopt, reject or modify science
content standards by July 30, 2013. (EC � 60605.85)
The science framework was adopted in 2003. A review and
update of the science framework was in the early stages
when the process was suspended.
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The SBE adopted common core standards in English language
arts and mathematics on August 2, 2010, including literacy
standards in science. Literacy standards focus on
subject-specific vocabulary and acknowledge the unique
text structures found in informational text (to prepare
pupils to read and write in subjects other than English
language arts).
ANALYSIS
This bill requires the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) and the State Board of Education (SBE)
to consider ways to increase the number of scientists and
engineers, and requires the science framework and standard
to be reviewed and revised. Specifically, this bill:
1) Requires the SPI and the SBE to consider ways to
increase the number of pupils who go to college and
graduate with degrees in the various scientific and
engineering fields, including either of the
following:
a) Recruiting more science teachers
through incentives and public-private
partnerships designed to encourage pupils to go
to college, major in science and related fields,
and enter teaching careers.
b) Encouraging businesses in the
private sector to participate in educating
pupils and in offering them exposure to possible
careers in the science and engineering fields.
2) Requires the SPI and SBE to direct the appropriate
entity, in order to increase the number of pupils who
go to college and graduate with degrees in the
various scientific and engineering fields, to do the
following:
a) Revise the science framework and
standard, if necessary, to reflect the model
curriculum developed by organization of
outstanding scientists, such as the National
Academy of Science.
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b) Incorporate in the science
curriculum applied mathematics, reading
comprehension, and expository writing in
describing observations and experiments.
c) Incorporate in the science
curriculum analytical, intellectual, and
creative skills required to pose and investigate
scientific questions.
d) Incorporate in the science
curriculum engineering elements in a manner
designed to engage pupils.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author,
"Science, technology, engineering, and math fields
are currently facing a shortage. In addition to
encouraging more students to enter the teaching
profession, keeping existing/new science and math
teachers up to date on changes in the industry is
crucial, and can be achieved by encouraging
professional development (for example, summer
programs sponsored by biotech firms to learn new
techniques)."
2) Revision of standards and frameworks . This bill
requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) and State Board of Education (SBE) to direct
the appropriate entity to, among other things, revise
the science framework and standard. The science
standard was adopted in 1998. None of California's
academic content standards have ever been revised
(other than the recent adoption of common core
standards in English language arts and math).
In January of 2005, the Legislative Counsel issued an
opinion that the State Board of Education (SBE) does
not have the authority to revise the standards under
current law. Counsel noted that current law permits
the Board to "modify any proposed ? standards prior
to adoption" but that the authority to revise the
standards appears to end with their adoption.
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SB 300 (Hancock, Ch. 624, 2001) required the SBE to adopt,
reject or modify science content standards by July
30, 2013.
The process for reviewing frameworks has been suspended
since July 28, 2009. The SBE is specifically
prohibited from reviewing frameworks and adopting
instructional materials until the 2015-16 school
year.
3) Literacy standards in science . The SBE adopted
common core standards in English language arts that
include literacy standards in science (and
history-social science and technical subjects).
Literacy standards focus on subject-specific
vocabulary and acknowledge the unique text structures
found in informational text (to prepare pupils to
read and write in subjects other than English
language arts).
4) Model curriculum . This bill requires the revision of
the science standard and framework to reflect the
model curriculum developed by organizations of
outstanding scientists, such as the National Academy
of Science. It is unclear who or what determines
which organizations are considered outstanding, and
how many model curricula are to be reviewed and
utilized.
5) Related legislation . SB 1458 (Steinberg), among
other things, requires the SPI, in consultation with
the Public School Accountability Act advisory
committee, by March 1, 2013, to report to the
Legislature and recommend to the SBE for adoption a
method for increasing the emphasis on pupil
performance in science and social science in the API.
SB 1458 is pending in the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
6) Prior legislation . This bill is identical to SB 282
(Wyland), which was introduced in February 2011,
scheduled to be heard by this Committee in March
2011, and pulled from the agenda at the request of
the author. The bill was subsequently returned to
the Secretary of the Senate.
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SUPPORT
American Council of Engineering Companies
OPPOSITION
None on file.