Bill Text: CA SB300 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Pupil instruction: instructional materials: content

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 624, Statutes of 2011. [SB300 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB300-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 300	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hancock

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2011

   An act to add Section 60605.85 to the Education Code, relating to
pupil instruction.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 300, as introduced, Hancock. Academic Content Standards
Commission for Science and History-Social Science.
   Existing law, operative until July 1, 2011, and to be repealed on
January 1, 2014, requires the State Board of Education to adopt
statewide academic content standards and performance standards, based
on the recommendation of the Commission for the Establishment of
Academic Content and Performance Standards and the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, respectively. Existing law authorizes the state
board to modify any proposed content standard or performance standard
prior to its adoption.
   This bill would establish the Academic Content Standards
Commission for Science and History-Social Science consisting of 21
appointed members, as specified. The bill would require the
commission to develop academic content standards in science and
history-social science, which shall be internationally benchmarked
and build toward college and career readiness by the time of high
school graduation. The bill would require the commission to present
its recommended academic content standards to the state board on or
before January 1, 2013, and would require the state board to either
adopt or reject the those standards on or before June 30, 2013. The
bill would also require the Superintendent and the state board to
present specified information to the Governor and appropriate policy
and fiscal committees of the Legislature.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) It is widely acknowledged that California has the eighth
largest economy in the world.
   (b) California must develop scientifically and technologically
literate citizens in order to maintain our edge in the world economy.

   (c) The state's current science content standards do not include
any mention of biotechnologies or nanotechnologies, and they do not
require pupils to learn about environmental issues or the fact that
Pluto is no longer considered a planet.
   (d) The state's science and history-social science content
standards were developed in 1998 and are now 13 years old.
   (e) There is nothing in current law that requires science and
history-social science content standards to be reviewed and updated.
   (f) Ever changing historical trends, economic conditions, cultural
exchanges, and demographics have created a greater need than ever
before for understanding the foundational ideas and philosophy of our
country and the world.
   (g) The goals of educating pupils in history-social science fall
into the following three broad categories:
   (1) Knowledge and cultural understanding, which includes
incorporating learning from history, the other humanities, geography,
and the social sciences.
   (2) Demographic understanding and civic values, which includes
incorporating an understanding of our national identity,
constitutional heritage, civic values, and rights and
responsibilities.
   (3) Skills attainment and social participation, which includes
incorporating basic study skills, critical thinking skills, and
participating skills that are essential for effective citizenship.
   (h) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a schedule
and process for the review and revision, as necessary, of the state's
science and history-social science content standards.
  SEC. 2.  Section 60605.85 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   60605.85.  (a) There is hereby established the Academic Content
Standards Commission for Science and History-Social Science. The
commission shall consist of 21 members, appointed as follows:
   (1) Eleven members appointed by the Governor.
   (2) Five members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
   (3) Five members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
   (b) Members of the commission shall serve at the pleasure of the
appointing authority.
   (c) Not less than half of the members appointed by each of the
appointing authorities pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be current
public school elementary or secondary classroom teachers of science
or history-social science.
   (d) The commission shall develop academic content standards in
science and history-social science. The standards shall be
internationally benchmarked and build toward college and career
readiness by the time of high school graduation.
   (e) Pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9
(commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3
of Title 2 of the Government Code), all meetings and hearings of the
commission shall be open and available to the public.
   (f) The commission shall present its recommended academic content
standards to the state board on or before January 1, 2013.
   (g) On or before June 30, 2013, the state board shall do either of
the following:
   (1) Adopt the academic content standards as proposed by the
commission.
   (2) Reject the academic content standards as proposed by the
commission. If the state board rejects the standards it shall provide
a specific written explanation to the Superintendent, the Governor,
and the Legislature of the reasons why the proposed standards were
rejected.
   (h) The Superintendent and state board shall present to the
Governor and to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the
Legislature a schedule and implementation plan for integrating the
academic content standards adopted pursuant to this section into the
state educational system.