BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 300
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Date of Hearing: July 3, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 300 (Hancock) - As Introduced: February 15, 2013
Policy Committee: Education Vote:7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education (SBE), on or
before November 30, 2015, to consider the adoption of a revised
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials in science. Further requires the curriculum framework
to be based on the Next Generation Science Standards required to
be adopted by SBE on or before November 30, 2013.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)GF administrative costs, likely between $150,000 and $250,000,
to the State Department of Education to develop a science
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials (IM) in science.
2)Potential GF/98 cost pressure, likely in the low millions, to
provide local education agencies (LEAs) with funding to
purchase science IM.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . AB 2 X4 (July 2009) specified that LEAs are not
required to purchase IM through 2012-13. Consistent with the
non-purchasing requirement, the bill also suspended the
requirement for SBE to adopt IM or conduct other procedures
associated with adoption (i.e., adopting curriculum
frameworks) until the 2014-15 school year.
SB 300 (Hancock), Chapter 624, Statutes of 2011, required the
SBE to adopt, reject, or modify science content standards on
or before November 30, 2013.
SB 300
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With the adoption of national common core standards in English
language arts and mathematics, there is a movement to include
science and history/social science as part of this effort.
With the state in the process of approving curriculum
frameworks for common core standards aligned to English
language arts and mathematics, the author argues that
authorizing this work for the science is the next logical
step.
2)Existing law . In 1998, the SBE adopted academic content
standards in four major areas: English language arts,
mathematics, history/social science, and science. These
standards represent the foundation of California's educational
system. The state's assessments, accountability system,
textbooks, and professional development programs are aligned
to these content standards. Current law also requires the SBE
to adopt content standards and curriculum frameworks in other
content areas, including physical education and arts.
Prior to the enactment of AB 2 X4 in July 2009, statute
required the SBE to adopt basic IM in the core academic
content areas (ELA, mathematics, history/social science, and
science) every six years for use in grades K-8. It also
established a schedule for the adoption of IM in other
subjects. Statute also required the SBE to adopt statewide
academically rigorous content standards in the core curriculum
areas. These content standards are implemented through the
curriculum frameworks, as adopted by SBE. The adopted IM must
be consistent with the criteria and standards of quality
prescribed in the adopted curriculum frameworks. The
development of curriculum frameworks is a multi-year process.
Also, the governing board of each school district maintaining
one or more high schools is authorized to adopt IM for use in
the high schools (grades 9-12) under its control.
3)Should the Legislature provide more guidance in terms of the
content of the science curriculum framework and IM ? AB 250
(Brownley), Chapter 608, Statutes of 2011, established a
process for the adoption of curriculum frameworks and
evaluation criteria for IM aligned to the common core
standards in English language arts. Specifically, this bill
established guidance regarding the content of the curriculum
frameworks and the requirement that frameworks address the
instructional needs of English learner (EL) and special needs
pupils, as specified. In reference to IM, Chapter 608
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required any IM used to be instructionally appropriate for EL
and special needs pupils.
AB 1246 (Brownley), Chapter 668, Statutes of 2012, established
a process for the adoption of IM aligned to the common core
standards in mathematics. Chapter 668 allows school districts
to utilize IM not adopted by the SBE to ensure maximum
flexibility in being able to leverage IM being used in other
states and recommended by national consortiums. The bill also
established a more streamlined SBE process in order to avoid
the full cost of conducting an adoption.
The committee recommends the author consider adding language
to provide guidance to the SBE with regard to the content of
the curriculum framework and IM, in particular, as these
issues relate to EL and special needs pupils. The committee
also recommends considering including language that will
result in a more streamlined process for potential adoption of
science IM.
4)2013 Budget Act allocation for Common Core standards
implementation . AB 86 (Budget Committee), pending on the
governor's desk, allocates $1.25 billion to LEAs, charter
schools, and the state special schools to support the
integration of academic content standards aligned to the
common core standards, including the Next Generation Science
Standards. LEAs, charter schools, and state special schools
are authorized to use this funding for the purposes of
professional development, instructional materials, and
technology. This funding equals approximately $700 per pupil.
Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)
319-2081