BILL NUMBER: SB 359INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Mitchell (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, as introduced, Mitchell. Fair Mathematics and Academic 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 Fair Mathematics and Academic Placement Act of 2015. The bill would express findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to the importance of pupil achievement in mathematics. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop and establish a fair, objective, and transparent statewide mathematics and academic placement policy with specified elements and would require school districts to implement that policy. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on school districts, it would constitute 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. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. 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 STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (b) 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. (c) The most egregious examples of mathematics misplacement often occur with successful pupils and, disproportionately, with successful pupils of color. Often, these successful pupils of underrepresented populations are achieving grades of "B" or better, or are testing at proficient or even advanced proficiency levels on state assessments, but are nevertheless held back to repeat 8th grade mathematics coursework rather than advancing to the next course in the recommended mathematics course sequence. 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 Fair Mathematics and Academic Placement Act of 2015. (b) The Superintendent shall develop and establish a fair, objective, and transparent statewide mathematics and academic placement policy that shall include at least all of the following elements: (1) Systematically take multiple objective measures into consideration, such as diagnostic placement tests, statewide assessments, pupil grades, and pupil work. (2) Include multiple progress checkpoints through the academic year to permit the reevaluation of pupil progress. (3) Require periodic examination of pupil placement data to ensure that there is no disproportionate impact in the course placement of pupils by race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. (4) Be readily available to pupils and parents, and offer clear recourse for pupils and parents who question placement decisions. (c) School districts shall implement the statewide mathematics and academic placement policy established by the Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (a). 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.