BILL NUMBER: SB 402INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Correa FEBRUARY 16, 2011 An act to add Section 60006 to the Education Code, relating to education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 402, as introduced, Correa. Education: curriculum frameworks. Existing law requires the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission to recommend curriculum frameworks for adoption by the State Board of Education in accordance with regulations. This bill would require each curriculum framework to describe how content can be delivered to intentionally build creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and communication into and across each content area, to the extent the description is deemed appropriate by the board. 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. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (1) Existing law establishes a process for developing curriculum frameworks to guide the implementation of standards and skills by specifying the design of instructional materials, curriculum, instruction, and professional development. (2) Curriculum frameworks are required to provide guidelines and selected research-based approaches for implementing instruction to ensure optimal benefits for all pupils, including pupils from underperforming groups, including English learners, African-American pupils, pupils from low socio-economic groups, pupils with learning disabilities and reading difficulties, and advanced learners. (3) Currently California's curriculum frameworks do not reflect an overarching unified vision for elementary and secondary education in California designed to prepare pupils for college and career readiness. (b) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to have curriculum frameworks that intentionally do the following: (1) Focus on integrating 21st century skills including critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation skills as a competency-based approach to learning in all academic core content areas, including English language arts, mathematics, history-social science, visual and performing arts, and world languages. (2) Promote interdisciplinary approaches that integrate the use of supportive technologies, inquiry and problem-based approaches, and higher order thinking skills that provide contexts for pupils to apply learning in relevant, real world scenarios to prepare pupils for college, career, and citizenship in the 21st century. SEC. 2. Section 60006 is added to the Education Code, to read: 60006. Each curriculum framework adopted by the state board shall describe how content can be delivered to intentionally build all of the following skills into and across each content area, to the extent the description is deemed appropriate by the state board: (a) Creativity and innovation, including, but not limited to, thinking creatively, working creatively with others, and implementing innovations. (b) Critical thinking and problem solving, including, but not limited to, reasoning effectively, using systems thinking, making judgments and decisions, and solving problems. (c) Collaboration, including, but not limited to, working effectively in diverse teams, adapting to change and being flexible, demonstrating initiative and self-direction, working independently, demonstrating productivity and accountability, and demonstrating leadership and responsibility. (d) Communication, including, but not limited to, communicating clearly and effectively through reading, writing, and speaking.