BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 2303 (Bloom) - State Recognition Program of Multiple Pathways
to Biliteracy
Amended: July 2, 2014 Policy Vote: Education 5-1
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: August 4, 2014
Consultant: Jacqueline Wong-Hernandez
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 2303 establishes the State Recognition Program
of Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy be administered by the
California Department of Education (CDE) for purposes of
recognizing school districts and county offices of education
(COEs) demonstrating excellence in providing and supporting
multiple opportunities for students in grades 1-12 to attain
high achievement and linguistic biliteracy through biliteracy
programs. The bill also authorizes the use of alternate
assessments for the purpose of the State Seal of Biliteracy
(SSB).
Fiscal Impact:
State Recognition Program of Multiple Pathways to
Biliteracy: $150,000 (General Fund) in one-time costs to the
CDE to establish and promote the program, and approximately
$110,000 in going staff costs to administer it.
Background: Existing law establishes the SSB which provides
recognition to high school students who have demonstrated
proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more
languages in addition to English. (EC � 51460)
To be eligible for the SSB, high school graduates must meet all
of the following criteria:
1 Complete all English language arts (ELA) requirements
for graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0
or above in those classes
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2 Pass the California Standards Test in ELA administered
in grade 11 at the proficient level or above.
3 Demonstrate proficiency in one or more languages in
addition to English, through one of the following methods:
a) Pass a foreign language Advanced Placement
(AP) examination with a score of 3 or higher or an
International Baccalaureate examination with a score
or 4 or higher.
b) Successfully complete a four-year high school
course of study in a foreign (world) language, and
attain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above
in that course of study.
c) Pass a school district language examination
that, at a minimum, assesses speaking, reading, and
writing in a language other than English at the
proficient level or higher, if no AP examination or
off-the-shelf language test exists, and the school
district can certify to the State Superintendent of
Public Instruction (SPI) that the test meets the rigor
of a four-year high school course of study in that
foreign language. If a school district offers an
examination in a language in which an AP examination
or off-the-shelf language test does exist, the school
district language examination must be approved by the
SPI for the purpose of determining proficiency in a
language other than English.
d) Passing an SAT Subject Test foreign language
examination with a score of 600 or higher. (EC �51461)
If the primary language of a pupil in any of grades 9-12
inclusive is other than English, the student is also required to
attain the early advanced proficiency level on the California
English Language Development Test (CELDT) as well as meet
criteria listed above in 1, 2, and 3.
Proposed Law: This bill establishes the State Recognition
Program of Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy, a voluntary program,
to be administered annually by the CDE beginning January 1,
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2016, for purposes of recognizing school districts and COEs
demonstrating excellence in providing and supporting multiple
opportunities to attain high achievement and linguistic
biliteracy. Specifically this bill:
1) Outlines a timeline for implementation by the CDE, and
requires the CDE to use appropriate state and federal
dollars for implementation.
2) Requires the CDE to recognize a school district or COE that
meets specified criteria which includes, maintenance of a
well-articulated SSB program for at least two years and
that there be no outstanding English learner compliance
findings from the most recent federal and state program
monitoring, along with other detailed and prescriptive
program eligibility requirements.
3) Provides that this program only be implemented to the
extent monies are available to the CDE for this purpose
from any source.
4) Establishes alternative assessments to the passing of a
state adopted standards aligned test in English language
arts administered in grade 11 at the proficient level or
above.
Related Legislation: AB 815 (Brownley) Ch. 618/2011 established
the SSB, which became effective January 1, 2012.
Staff Comments: This bill creates a new program within the CDE,
and cost pressure on the General Fund to fund that program. The
bill specifies that the CDE "shall use appropriate state and
federal moneys" to implement the program, but it is unclear what
those funding streams would be beyond the General Fund. The CDE
would require at least 1PY (at an estimated $110,000) to
administer the voluntary program. Costs would likely be higher
in the first year, to establish the program, create materials,
and promote it among schools to increase participation.
Recommended Amendments: Staff recommends that the reference to
the "SAT II" on page 11, line 25, be replaced with "SAT Subject
Test" to reflect the updated name of the test.
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