BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 897|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 897
Author: Steinberg (D)
Amended: 4/3/14
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 9-0, 3/26/14
AYES: Liu, Wyland, Block, Correa, Galgiani, Hancock, Hueso,
Huff, Monning
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 5/23/14
AYES: De Le�n, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
SUBJECT : Adult Education Programs: Competitive Grants
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill modifies the requirements established for
participation in the recently established California Career
Pathways Trust (Trust) and Adult Education Consortium programs
to include civics instruction, as specified, and makes other
technical and clarifying changes. This bill also requires that
the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC), upon the next
revision of the history-social science framework, consider
whether and how to incorporate the College, Career, and Civic
Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards into the
framework. This bill further requires that specified adult
education courses distribute basic information about American
Government and civics, as specified.
ANALYSIS : Existing law, AB 86 (Assembly Budget Committee,
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Chapter 48, Statutes of 2013), adopted as part of the 2013-14
Governor's Budget, among other things, established the following
two programs:
1.The Adult Education Consortium Program which provides $25
million in planning grants for purposes of regionally creating
and implementing plans to provide adult education programs.
2.The Trust which provides $250 million for school districts,
county superintendents of school, charter schools, and
California Community College (CCC) districts in the form of
one-time competitive grants for K-14 career pathways programs.
Adult Education Consortium Program
The requirements of AB 86 are being jointly implemented by the
California Department of Education (CDE) and the CCC
Chancellor's Office. Eligibility for the planning grant funds
is limited to consortiums consisting of at least one CCC
district and at least one school district within the boundaries
of a CCC district. Consortia may include other entities
providing adult education courses, such as correctional
facilities, other local public entities and community-based
organizations. The planning grants must be used to create and
implement a plan to better provide adults in its region with all
of the following:
1.Elementary and secondary basic skills, including classes
required for a high school diploma or high school equivalency
certificate.
2.Classes and courses for immigrants eligible for educational
services in citizenship and English as a second language
(ESL), and workforce preparation classes in basic skills.
3.Education programs for adults with disabilities.
4.Short-term career technical education programs with high
employment potential.
5.Programs for apprentices.
The CCC Chancellor and the CDE are required to submit a joint
status report on the plans submitted by consortia and
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recommendations for improvements in the delivery system serving
adult learners by March 1, 2014, with a final report by March 1,
2015.
The Trust
AB 86 provided for the use of $250 million appropriated in the
Budget Act of 2013 for the purposes of career technical
education. It established the Trust to apportion funds for
school districts, county superintendents of school, charter
schools, and CCC districts in the form of one-time competitive
grants for purposes of K-14 career pathways programs that, among
other things, establish regional collaborative relationships and
partnerships with business entities, community organizations,
and local institutions of postsecondary education.
This bill:
1.Requires the IQC, when revising the history-social science
framework and as appropriate and based on the subject matter
of the course, to consider whether and how to incorporate a
specified social studies framework into the history-social
science framework.
2.Replaces the provisions providing for the use of funds
apportioned in the Budget Act for purposes of establishing the
Trust with codified provisions.
3.Clarifies that, for purposes of the Trust, "business entities"
include public sector entities.
4.Requires that the adult education courses for elementary and
secondary basic skills, including classes required for a high
school diploma or high school equivalency certificate, and
classes for immigrants in citizenship and ESL and workforce
preparation classes in basic skills, which are delivered via
the consortia to distribute basic information in American
Government and civics with instruction to include but not be
limited to federal, state, and local government, the three
branches of government, the importance of civic engagement,
and registering to vote.
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5.Requires that the new requirements on the specified adult
education courses apply to any funding provided to the
regional consortia beginning with the fiscal year 2015-16 and
in future fiscal years.
Prior Legislation
AB 700 (Gomez, Chapter 483, Statutes of 2013) requires the IQC,
in its regular adoption schedule for the history/social science
framework, to ensure that voter education information is
included in the American Government and civics curriculum at the
high school level, including, but not limited to, information on
the importance of registering to vote in local, state, and
federal elections, where and how to access and understand the
voter information pamphlet and other materials to become an
informed voter.
AB 137 (Buchanan, Chapter 225, Statutes of 2013) requires IQC,
when revising the history-social science framework, among other
things, to receive input from civics learning experts, including
civics education program providers, associations of civics
educators, and organizations dedicated to research on civics
learning, for the purpose of integrating civics learning
content, concepts, and skills, at all appropriate grade levels
and with the State Board of Education adopted standards in the
core curriculum areas.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Codify California Career Pathways Trust Program: Substantial
ongoing cost pressure to continue permanent funding for a
program that has received a one-time Budget Act appropriation
of $250 million.
Distribute information: Potentially significant local to the
CCCs and school districts to distribute basic civics
information to students in every adult education course for
elementary and secondary basic skills, classes for immigrants
in citizenship and ESL and workforce preparation classes.
C3 Framework: Very minor costs for the IQC to consider
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whether and how to incorporate the C3 Framework into the
history-social science framework during its next regular
revision. If that consideration results in substantive
changes to the current revision, which will not be completed
before this bill takes effect, it could drive new CDE costs of
$75,000. If the requirements are interpreted to apply to
future revisions (sometime after the revision already near
completion), costs will likely be very minor.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/23/14)
California Adult Education Administrators Association
California Council for Adult Education
California Council for the Social Studies
California School Boards Association
California School Employees Association
State Bar of California
Students First
OPPOSITION : (Verified 5/23/14)
California Right to Life Committee
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author, "Too many
studies show an alarming deficiency in civic knowledge and in
turn the ability for our residents and citizens to protect our
democracy?..As a democracy, we depend on a knowledgeable and
engaged population. Education plays a fundamental role in
building civic vitality within our communities and states."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : Opponents argue their concern for
this bill revolves around the concept of public-private
partnerships and their increasing role in government. This bill
offers grants to various school districts and charter schools to
hire specialists in "work-based" learning. The goal is to guide
students from K-14 into pathway programs directed by specialists
receiving the taxpayers' dollars. These specialists would come
from businesses including those in the private sector as well as
the public sector. These partnerships consequently provide many
benefits for the individual company and/or business including
potential future employees and tax benefits.
PQ:k 5/25/14 Senate Floor Analyses
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SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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