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

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-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 300	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hancock

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2011

   An act to add  Section 60605.85   Sections
60200.8 and 60605.85  to the Education Code, relating to pupil
instruction.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 300, as amended, Hancock.  Academic Content Standards
Commission for Science and History-Social Science.  
Pupil instruction: instructional materials: content standards. 

   (1) Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt
basic instructional materials for use in kindergarten and grades 1 to
8, inclusive, for governing boards, as defined, and authorizes the
state board to establish criteria for that purpose. Existing law sets
forth a schedule for the submission of instructional materials to
the state board for adoption. Notwithstanding this schedule, existing
law prohibits the state board from adopting instructional materials
or following the procedures related to that adoption until the
2015-16 school year. Existing law requires the Curriculum Development
and Supplemental Materials Commission to recommend curriculum
frameworks for adoption by the state board and develop criteria for
evaluating instructional materials.  
   This bill would authorize the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to complete the public review process of the draft version of the
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials in history-social science that was approved for public
review on July 17, 2009, by the commission, modify that framework and
criteria based upon public comment, and submit the revised
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials in history-social science to the state board for approval.
The bill would require the state board to consider the adoption of a
revised curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for
instructional materials in history-social science by June 30, 2012.
 
   Existing 
    (2)     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 
 require the Superintendent to review the statewide science
academic content standards and identify the standards that are in
need of updating. The bill would require the Superintendent to
modify, revise, or delete any of these standards in order to reflect
current and confirmed research, as judged by scientific experts and
teachers and to  present  its   the 
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  also  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  a schedule and
implementation plan for integrating the standards adopted into the
state educational system  .
   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 60200.8 is added   to the
  Education Code   , to read:  
   60200.8.  Notwithstanding Section 60200.7 and in order to expedite
the time and minimize the cost of the adoption process, by June 30,
2012, the state board shall consider the adoption of a revised
curriculum framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials in history-social science. The Superintendent may complete
the public review process of the draft version of the curriculum
framework and evaluation criteria for instructional materials in
history-social science that was approved for public review on July
17, 2009, by the commission, modify that framework and criteria based
upon public comment, and submit the revised curriculum framework and
evaluation criteria for instructional materials in history-social
science to the state board for approval. 
   SEC. 2.   SEC. 3.   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. 
    60605.85.    (a) The Superintendent shall review the
statewide science academic content standards and identify the
standards that are in need of updating. The Superintendent shall
modify, revise, or delete any of these standards in order to reflect
current and confirmed research, as judged by scientific experts and
teachers. On or before January 1, 2013, the Superintendent shall
present the recommended academic content standards to the state
board.  
   (g) 
    (b)  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   Superintendent  .
   (2) Reject the academic content standards as proposed by the
 commission   Superintendent  . 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) 
    (c)  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.