California Senate Bill SB300 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 300AMENDED 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   Existing   (2)     Existing  law, operative until July 1, 2011, and to be repealed on January 1, 2014, requires the State Board of Education to adopt statewide academic content standards and performance standards, based on the recommendation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.