BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1540
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1540 (Hancock)
As Amended August 20, 2012
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :38-0
EDUCATION 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Brownley, Ammiano, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, |
| |Buchanan, Butler, Carter, | |Blumenfield, Bradford, |
| |Eng, Wagner, Williams | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Davis, Fuentes, Hall, |
| | | |Hill, Cedillo, Mitchell, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Solorio, |
| | | |Wagner |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes the State Board of Education (SBE) to
consider the adoption of a revised curriculum framework and
evaluation criteria for instructional materials in
history-social science (H/SS). Prohibits the California
Department of Education (CDE) from conducting work necessary to
revise the curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for
instructional materials in H/SS until after CDE has completed
work related to the development of curriculum frameworks for the
common core academic content standards.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, one-time General Fund administrative costs to the CDE
likely between $100,000 and $150,000, to complete the H/SS
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria, as specified.
Further, it estimates potential General Fund/Proposition 98 cost
pressure, likely in the low millions, to provide local education
agencies (LEAs) with funding to purchase H/SS instructional
materials.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "In 2009, the K-12 History
Social Science Framework recommendations were near completion
when the work of the Commission was suspended because the
process and procedures for adopting instructional materials,
including framework revisions, were included in the flexibility
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provisions of the Budget. The flexibility provisions were
extended again in the 2011 Budget to the year 2015-16. As a
result, the K-12 History Social Science Framework in place today
is the Framework adopted in 2003 based upon Standards adopted in
1998."
This bill authorizes the SBE to consider the adoption of a
revised curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for
instructional materials in H/SS, but only authorizes the CDE to
do so after CDE has completed work related to the development of
curriculum frameworks for the common core academic standards.
Current restrictions: Consistent with the categorical
flexibility provisions extended to the year 2015-16 in the 2011
Budget, current law prohibits the SBE from adopting
instructional materials or curriculum frameworks for all
subjects with the exception of mathematics and English language
arts. Mathematics and English language arts were exempted from
this restriction as a result of AB 250 (Brownley), Chapter 608,
Statutes of 2011, which sought to implement the common core
standards adopted through SB 1 X5 (Steinberg), Chapter 2,
Statutes of 2009-2010, Fifth Extraordinary Session.
H/SS content changes frequently: As highlighted in the author's
statement, California's H/SS frameworks have not been updated
since 2003, which are based upon standards from 1998. Supporters
of this bill argue that these standards are outdated and do not
appropriately include information about important topics and
occurrences such as the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001,
the following wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the impact of these
events on different groups and populations and other critical
topics. Proponents seem to argue that due to the frequent
changes in history, delays in the adoption of H/SS curriculum
frameworks have a more immediate impact because the delay may
limit student access to this information. There will, even when
the regular six year adoption cycle resumes, however, likely
always be at least a short lag in curricular information as
compared to current trends and events.
Much of the support for this measure seems to center on the need
for curriculum frameworks in California to reflect new
information that is prevalent in recent history. The updated
curriculum frameworks that would be adopted by this bill would
still reflect the 1998 H/SS standards. An updated curriculum
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framework may to be able to include more contemporary events and
trends, but would be limited to the content in the standards,
thus raising the question about whether a full review and update
of the H/SS standards would be a more comprehensive approach.
Much of the H/SS curriculum framework is already completed: On
July 17, 2009, the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC),
formerly the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials
Commission, approved the draft update of the H/SS framework for
field review. Shortly thereafter, due to budget action, the
field review was suspended. The CDE also suspended work related
to the revision of frameworks for science, health, and
mathematics. Numerous groups and individuals raised concern
about the suspension of the framework revision and adoption
process, particularly in regard to the H/SS framework that was
close to completion. Many argued that the work on the H/SS
framework should be completed even without an immediate
instructional materials adoption because such a framework would
provide updated content and pedagogical strategies for teachers
to help their students acquire updated and relevant knowledge
and skills. This bill follows that logic and requires the
adoption of a H/SS framework even while the instructional
materials adoption process remains suspended.
Authorizing CDE only after completion of common core work:
Current law requires the SBE to adopt new common core standards
and aligned mathematics and English language arts frameworks by
May 30, 2013, and May 30, 2014, respectively. If this bill is
enacted, work by the CDE on a revised H/SS framework would only
be authorized to begin after May 2014.
Prior legislation: SB 1278 (Wyland) of 2010, requires the SBE
to adopt a revised framework and evaluation criteria for H/SS in
2011. SB 1278 was held in the Assembly Appropriations
Committee.
AB 2069 (Carter) of 2010, requires the SBE to adopt a revised
framework and evaluation criteria for H/SS by July 1, 2011. AB
2069 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Analysis Prepared by : Mark Murphy and Marisol Avi�a / ED. /
(916) 319-2087
SB 1540
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FN: 0005113