Bill Text: CA SB359 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: California Mathematics Placement Act of 2015.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-10-05 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 508, Statutes of 2015. [SB359 Detail]
Download: California-2015-SB359-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 359 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 508
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 5, 2015
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 5, 2015
PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 28, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 17, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 16, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 24, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 2, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 23, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 6, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Senator Mitchell
(Coauthors: Senators Beall and Hancock)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer)
FEBRUARY 24, 2015
An act to add Section 51224.7 to the Education Code, relating to
pupil instruction.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 359, Mitchell. California Mathematics Placement Act of 2015.
(1) Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and
secondary education in this state, and authorizes local educational
agencies throughout the state to provide instruction to pupils.
This bill would enact the California Mathematics Placement Act of
2015. The bill would require governing boards or bodies of local
educational agencies, as defined, that serve pupils entering grade 9
and that have not adopted a fair, objective, and transparent
mathematics placement policy as of January 1, 2016, to, before the
beginning of the 2016-17 school year, develop and adopt, in a
regularly scheduled public meeting, a fair, objective, and
transparent mathematics placement policy for pupils entering grade 9
with specified elements, and would authorize governing boards or
bodies of local educational agencies serving pupils who are
transitioning between elementary and middle school or elementary and
junior high school to develop and implement a mathematics placement
policy for these pupils, as applicable, with these specified
elements. The bill would further require each governing board or body
of a local educational agency to ensure that its mathematics
placement policy is posted on its Internet Web site. By imposing
additional requirements on local educational agencies, the bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) Pupil achievement in mathematics is important to prepare
pupils for college and their future careers, especially those careers
in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM).
(b) Placement in appropriate mathematics courses is critically
important for a pupil during his or her middle and high school years.
A pupil's 9th grade math course placement is a crucial crossroads
for his or her future educational success. Misplacement in the
sequence of mathematics courses creates a number of barriers and
results in pupils being less competitive for college admissions,
including admissions at the California State University and
University of California.
(c) The most egregious examples of mathematics misplacement occur
with successful pupils and, disproportionately, with successful
pupils of color. These successful pupils are achieving a grade of "B"
or better, or are testing at proficient or even advanced proficiency
on state assessments. Nevertheless, they are held back to repeat 8th
grade mathematics coursework rather than advancing to the next
course in the recommended mathematics course sequence.
(d) Mathematics misplacement has far-reaching impacts on a pupil's
confidence, general knowledge of mathematical concepts, and high
school experience, and may also impact the college career
opportunities available to the pupil.
(e) New research shows that it is less common for pupils of color,
even high-achieving pupils of color, to reach calculus by grade 12
compared to their white and Asian peers.
(f) All pupils, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or
socioeconomic background, deserve an equal chance to advance in
mathematics.
(g) With the shift towards implementation of the Common Core State
Standards for Mathematics, it is particularly important for all
pupils to have access to high-quality mathematics programs that meet
the goals and expectations of these standards.
(h) It is crucial for teachers and guidance personnel to advise
pupils and parents on the importance of accurate mathematics course
placement and its impact on future college eligibility so pupils may
take each course in the mathematics course sequence.
(i) California faces a looming shortage of college-educated
workers in an increasingly competitive global economy.
(j) A policy for correct mathematics placement must be addressed
in order to ensure a fair process and chance of success for all
pupils.
SEC. 2. Section 51224.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:
51224.7. (a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the
California Mathematics Placement Act of 2015.
(b) Governing boards or bodies of local educational agencies that
serve pupils entering grade 9 and that have not adopted a fair,
objective, and transparent mathematics placement policy, as described
in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, as of January 1, 2016, shall,
before the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, develop and adopt,
in a regularly scheduled public meeting, a fair, objective, and
transparent mathematics placement policy for pupils entering grade 9
that does all of the following:
(1) Systematically takes multiple objective academic measures of
pupil performance into consideration. For purposes of this paragraph,
"objective academic measures" means measures, such as statewide
mathematics assessments, including interim and summative assessments
authorized pursuant to Section 60640, placement tests that are
aligned to state-adopted content standards in mathematics, classroom
assignment and grades, and report cards.
(2) Includes at least one placement checkpoint within the first
month of the school year to ensure accurate placement and permit
reevaluation of individual pupil progress.
(3) Requires examination of aggregate pupil placement data
annually to ensure that pupils who are qualified to progress in
mathematics courses based on their performance on objective academic
measures selected for inclusion in the policy pursuant to paragraph
(1) are not held back in a disproportionate manner on the basis of
their race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background. The local
educational agency shall report the aggregate results of this
examination to the governing board or body of the local educational
agency.
(4) Offers clear and timely recourse for each pupil and his or her
parent or legal guardian who questions the pupil's placement.
(5) For nonunified school districts, addresses the consistency of
mathematics placement policies between elementary and high school
districts.
(c) Governing boards or bodies of local educational agencies
serving pupils who are transitioning between elementary and middle
school or elementary and junior high school may develop and implement
a mathematics placement policy for these pupils, as applicable, that
satisfies paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b).
(d) Each governing board or body of a local educational agency
shall ensure that its mathematics placement policy is posted on its
Internet Web site.
(e) For purposes of this section, "local educational agency" means
county office of education, school district, state special school,
or charter school.
SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.
