BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 300
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Date of Hearing: June 26, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Joan Buchanan, Chair
SB 300 (Hancock) - As Introduced: February 15, 2013
SENATE VOTE : 37-1
SUBJECT : Curriculum framework: Next Generation Science
Standards.
SUMMARY : Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to
consider curriculum frameworks and evaluation criteria for
instructional materials aligned to the Next Generation Science
Standards. Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes findings and declarations of the Legislature related to
the Next Generation Science Standards, the necessity of
curriculum frameworks, and the intent that the adoption of a
new curriculum framework is not a mandate for the purchase of
new instructional materials.
2)Requires the SBE, on or before November 30, 2015, to consider
the adoption of a revised curriculum framework and evaluation
criteria for instructional materials in science based upon the
Next Generation Science Standards.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires the SBE, by November 30, 2013, to adopt science
content standards as recommended by the Superintendent of
Public Instruction (SPI) and a group of experts and requires
the SPI and this group of experts to use the Next Generation
Science Standards as the basis for their recommendations.
2)Defines "curriculum framework" as an outline of the components
of a given course of study designed to provide state direction
to school districts in providing instructional programs.
3)Prohibits the SBE from adopting, and the California Department
of Education (CDE) from preparing, curriculum frameworks or
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evaluation criteria for instructional materials until July 1,
2015.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, this bill has the following fiscal effects:
1)Develop science frameworks and evaluation criteria: Potential
costs of up to $1.1 million to the CDE, including workload
costs of up to $880,000 incurred over the 2.5 year process.
2)Cost pressure: Significant cost pressure for the SBE to adopt
instructional materials in science, and for school districts
to purchase new instructional materials.
COMMENTS : Educational standards describe what students should
know and be able to do in each subject in each grade. In
California, the SBE adopts standards that may be used by local
educational agencies (LEAs) for students, from Kindergarten
through high school. 26 states, including California, have
participated in the national development process of the Next
Generation Science Standards facilitated by Achieve, Inc. Under
current law, the SBE must adopt, modify, or reject the Next
Generation Science Standards as presented by the SPI no later
than November 30, 2013. These standards identify the particular
science content that the state recommends students should know
and be able to do within a course of study in science. While
the academic content standards provide state direction on what
should be taught, the frameworks provide direction as to how
these standards should be taught
It is within the discretion of each local education agency (LEA)
to adopt a course of study that meets the unique needs of its
community, but must meet the minimum requirements established by
the state for grades 1-6, or 7-12, as appropriate. In adopting
a course of study, LEAs look to the state-adopted academic
content standards and the curriculum frameworks for guidance.
When providing instruction in accordance with this course of
study, teachers similarly refer to the academic content
standards, the curriculum frameworks, and the instructional
materials that are aligned to the content standards. Thus, in
order to meaningfully implement the Next Generation Science
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Standards if adopted by the SBE in November, 2013, the SBE must
be permitted to adopt frameworks and evaluation criteria for
instructional materials aligned to these new standards.
In the absence of this bill , the CDE could not begin work on
preparing frameworks aligned to the Next Generation Science
Standards or evaluation criteria for instructional materials
aligned to these standards until July 1, 2015 which would likely
result in a delay of adoption until at least 2017.
The committee may wish to consider the fact that LEAs will face
enormous pressure to adopt new instructional materials aligned
to the Next Generation Science Standards when they become
available. This will be on the heels of the adoption of
mathematics instructional materials in March, 2014 and
potentially the adoption of ELA instructional materials in 2015
or 2016 (SB 201, Liu). Such a quick timeline for adoption of
three major subject areas will require a significant amount of
funds, which could be compounded by the Fiscal Year 2013-14
budget for Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). LEAs currently
receive about $2.5 billion for categorical programs that serve
the general pupil population, instructional materials being an
example of such a program. The LCFF eliminates these programs
and their funding by excluding them from the base grant and
using the funding for the supplemental grant. Districts with
relatively few targeted pupils will lose much of this funding
altogether. Districts with relatively large number of targeted
pupils will receive the funds formerly associated with these
programs in their supplemental grants. The fiscal impact of
such a rapid adoption cycle is the concern raised by the
Association of California School Administrators in their request
for an amendment that articulates the intent of the Legislature
that future adoptions be staggered.
Related Legislation : SB 201 (Liu), pending in this committee,
authorizes the SBE to adopt, by November 30, 2015, K-8
instructional materials that are aligned to the Common Core
English Language Arts Standards and the Common Core-aligned
English Language Development Standards.
Previous Legislation : AB 1246 (Brownley), Chapter 668, Statutes
of 2012, requires the SBE to adopt curriculum frameworks and
evaluation criteria for instructional materials that are aligned
to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
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SB 1200 (Hancock), Chapter 654, Statutes of 2012, extended the
dates by which the SPI must present his/her recommendation to
the SBE and the date by with the SBE must adopt, modify, or
reject the recommendation.
AB 250 (Brownley), Chapter 608, Statutes of 2011, requires the
SBE to adopt curriculum frameworks and evaluation criteria for
instructional materials that are aligned to the Common Core
State Standards for English Language Arts.
SB 300 (Hancock), Chapter 624, Statutes of 2011, requires the
SPI and a group of science experts to recommend to the SBE, and
the SBE to reject, modify, or adopt, science content standards
using the Next Generation Science Standards as the basis for
their deliberations.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson (Sponsor)
Association of California School Administrators (Support if
Amended)
California Federation of Teachers
California Science Teachers Association
Los Angeles Area of Chamber of Commerce
Public Advocates
Regional Economic Association Leaders (R.E.A.L.)
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Jill Rice / ED. / (916) 319-2087