California Senate Bill SB300 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 300AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 26, 2011 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   and repeal Section 60605.85 of  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   (2) Existing  Existing  law, operative until July 1, 2011, and to be repealed on January 1, 2014, requires the State Board of Education to adopt statewide academic content standards and performance standards, based on the recommendation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 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   require the state board to adopt science content standards pursuant to specified requirements. The bill would require the Superintendent to convene a group of science experts with whom the Superintendent would be required to recommend   science content standards for adoption to the state board. The bill would require the Superintendent to hold at least 2 public meetings to provide public input on the science content standards. The bill would require   the Superintendent to present the recommended science content standards to the state board by March 30, 2013, and would require the state board to adopt, reject, or modify those standards, as specified, by July 30, 2013. The bill would require the Superintendent and the state board to present to the Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature a schedule and implementation plan for integrating the adopted science content standards into the state educational system. The bill would repeal these provisions on July 1, 2014  . 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) Notwithstanding any other law, the state board shall adopt science content standards pursuant to the following requirements: (1) The Superintendent, in consultation with the state board, shall convene a group of science experts. The Superintendent shall ensure that the members of the group of science experts include, but are not limited to, individuals who are elementary and secondary science teachers, schoolsite principals, school district or county office of education administrators, and university professors. The Superintendent and the group of science experts shall recommend science content standards for adoption to the state board and shall utilize the Next Generation Science Standards as the basis for their deliberations and recommendations to the state board. (2) The Superintendent shall hold a minimum of two public meetings 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) in order for the public to provide input on the science content standards that would be recommended pursuant to paragraph (1). (3) The Superintendent shall present the recommended science content standards to the state board on or before March 30, 2013. (4) On or before July 30, 2013, the state board shall adopt, reject, or modify the science content standards presented by the Superintendent. (5) If the state board modifies the science content standards presented by the Superintendent, it shall provide written reasons for its modifications in a public meeting. The state board shall adopt its modifications to the science content standards at a subsequent public meeting held no later than July 30, 2013. The public meetings required by this paragraph shall be held 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). (b) The Superintendent and the state board shall present to the Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature a schedule and implementation plan for integrating the science content standards adopted pursuant to this section into the state educational system. (c) This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before July 1, 2014, deletes or extends that date.   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 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. (f) On or before June 30, 2013, the state board shall do either of the following: (1) Adopt the science content standards as proposed by the commission. (2) Reject the science 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. (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 science content standards adopted pursuant to this section into the state educational system.