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

California Senate Bill 300 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

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

BILL NUMBER: SB 300	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 28, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hancock

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2011

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 300, as amended, Hancock. 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.
   (2) Existing law, operative until July 1, 2011, and to be repealed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  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 the recommended
academic content standards to the state board on or before January 1,
2013, and   establish the Academic Content Standards
Commission for Science consisting of 9 appointed members, as
specified. The bill would require the commission to make
recommendations to modify, revise, and update the science content
  standards and submit the recommendations to the state
board by January 1, 2013. The bill  would require the state
board to either adopt or reject the  science content 
standards on or before June 30, 2013. The bill also would require the
Superintendent and the state board to present to the Governor and
appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature a
schedule and implementation plan for integrating the  science
content  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   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. 3.  Section 60605.85 is added to the Education Code, to read:

   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. 
    60605.85.    (a) The Academic Content Standards
Commission for Science is hereby established. The commission shall
consist of nine members, to be appointed as follows:  
   (1) Three members appointed by the Governor.  
   (2) Two members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

   (3) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. 

   (4) Two members appointed by the Superintendent.  
   (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.  
   (d) 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), each meeting or hearing of the
commission shall be open and available to the public.  
   (e) The commission shall make recommendations to the state board
to modify, revise, and update the science content standards adopted
pursuant to Section 60605, and shall submit the recommendations to
the state board on or before January 1, 2013.  
   (b) 
    (f)  On or before June 30, 2013, the state board shall
do either of the following:
   (1) Adopt the  academic   science
content standards as proposed by the  Superintendent
  commission  .
   (2) Reject the  academic   science 
content standards as proposed by the  Superintendent
  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. 
   (c) 
    (g)  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   science  content standards
adopted pursuant to this section into the state educational system.