Existing law requires the Academic Content Standards Commission to develop, and the State Board of Education to adopt or reject, academic content standards in language arts and mathematics that are internationally benchmarked and built toward college and career readiness by high school graduation, and requires at least 85% of these standards to be the common core academic content standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative consortium or any association or related interstate collaboration, except as specified.

This bill would establish the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Fund Act, to be implemented if funds are received in the annual Budget Act or another statute, as specified. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to allocate funds for the 201516 fiscal year to local educational agencies, as defined, on the basis of an equal amount per pupil based on the prior years enrollment for specified purposes relating to the integration of common core academic content standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and English language development standards in schools, including, among others, the professional development of teachers, administrators, and paraprofessional educators or other classified employees involved in the direct instruction of pupils that is aligned to specified academic content standards. The bill would require a local educational agency that receives funds to meet specified requirements, including reporting detailed expenditure information to the State Department of Education, and would require the department to summarize and submit the information to the appropriate budget subcommittees and policy committees of the Legislature on or before July 3, 2017.

The bill would require the Superintendent, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to allocate $900,000,000 $1,000,000,000 to local educational agencies for purposes of implementing the act, and to allocate $1.1 billion to local educational agencies to satisfy outstanding claims pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for reimbursement of state-mandated local program costs for any fiscal year. The bill would express the Legislatures intent that the local educational agencies use the latter one-time funds for the acts purposes. act.

Existing law requires the Academic Content Standards Commission to develop, and the State Board of Education to adopt or reject, academic content standards in language arts and mathematics that are internationally benchmarked and built toward college and career readiness by high school graduation, and requires at least 85% of these standards to be the common core academic content standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative consortium or any association or related interstate collaboration, except as specified.

This bill would establish the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Fund Act, to be implemented if funds are received in the annual Budget Act or another statute, as specified. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to allocate funds for the 201516 fiscal year to local educational agencies, as defined, on the basis of an equal amount per pupil based on the prior years enrollment for specified purposes relating to the integration of common core academic content standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and English language development standards in schools, including, among others, the professional development of teachers, administrators, and paraprofessional educators or other classified employees involved in the direct instruction of pupils that is aligned to specified academic content standards. The bill would require a local educational agency that receives funds to meet specified requirements, including reporting detailed expenditure information to the State Department of Education, and would require the department to summarize and submit the information to the appropriate budget subcommittees and policy committees of the Legislature on or before July 3, 2017.

The bill would require the Superintendent, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to allocate $900,000,000 to local educational agencies for purposes of implementing the act, and to allocate $1.1 billion to local educational agencies to satisfy outstanding claims pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for reimbursement of state-mandated local program costs for any fiscal year. The bill would express the Legislatures intent that the local educational agencies use the latter one-time funds for the acts purposes.

Date of Hearing: April 22, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Jimmy Gomez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 631

Author:(Bonilla) – As Amended Ver:March 26, 2015

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY: This bill establishes the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Fund (Implementation Fund), to provide $1 billion for the implementation of those standards and the English Language Development standards, upon appropriation by the Legislature. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to allocate funds to local educational agencies (LEAs), defined as school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools, on an equal per pupil basis and based on prior year enrollment.

2. Allows the funding to be available for encumbrance through the 2016-17 fiscal year.

3. Requires that LEAs spend this funding for any of the following: Professional development for teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals; integration of the CCSS, NGSS, and ELD standards through technology-based instruction; and instructional materials aligned to the above standards.

4. Requires, as a condition of receiving funding, the governing body of the LEA develop a spending plan (adopted by the governing board) and report expenditure information to the California Department of Education (CDE), including purchases made and the number of personnel trained. Requires the CDE to report this information to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature.

5. Provides that the article will not be implemented unless funding is provided for that purpose in the annual budget act or other statute.

FISCAL EFFECT: One-time Proposition 98/GF costs of $1 billion for the Implementation Fund, contingent upon funding provided in the annual budget act or other statute for this purpose. This bill does not contain an appropriation for this purpose and the Governor's January budget proposal does not include funding specifically for the Implementation Fund.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. California is in the process of overhauling its curriculum standards for English language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. These new content standards and their accompanying computer-based assessments require districts to properly train teachers, update instructional materials, and increase the integration of technology. Based on the cost of implementing previous content standards, the Department of Education estimated that Common Core would cost $3 billion to successfully implement. The state has dedicated $1.25 billion directly towards this effort. This bill proposes to provide an additional $1 billion to implement the new standards.

2. Funding history. The 2013-14 Budget Act provided $1.25 billion (one-time/P98) to LEAs to support the transition to the CCSS, the NGSS and the ELD standards. Allowable activities included professional development, instructional materials, and technology. This funding provides approximately $201 per student and can be used through the 2014-15 fiscal year.

The 2014-15 Budget Act appropriated $400 million to reduce K-12 education mandate claims backlog and expressed Legislative intent that the funding be used for the implementation of the above standards.

The 2015-16 Governor’s Budget proposes a one-time payment of $1.1 billion toward the mandates backlog with the expressed intent that LEAs use the funds for the implementation of the above standards. The author’s office indicates that the funding source for this bill is anticipated one-time Proposition 98/GF revenues in excess of those proposed in the Governor’s Budget. The Legislative Analyst’s Office has projected at least $1 billion to $2 billion additional one-time revenue will be available for appropriation in this year’s budget process.

3. Prior legislation. AB 2319 (Bonilla), of the 2013-14 Session, would have established the Innovation, Training, and Common Core Implementation Fund to provide funding for professional development aligned to new academic content standards, education technology, and instructional materials aligned to new content standards. The bill was held on Suspense in this committee.
   
   
   

Analysis Prepared by: Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 8, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Patrick O'Donnell, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 631

Author:(Bonilla) – As Introduced Ver:February 24, 2015

SUBJECT: School finance: Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Fund Act

SUMMARY: Establishes the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Fund, to provide $1 billion in funding for the implementation of those standards and the English Language Development standards, upon appropriation by the Legislature. Specifically, this bill:

1. Establishes the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Fund for the purpose of implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the English Language Development (ELD) standards.

2. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to allocate funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) – defined as school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools - on the basis of an equal amount per student based on prior year enrollment.

3. Allows the funding to be available for encumbrance through the 2016-17 fiscal year.

4. Requires that LEAs spend this funding for any of these purposes:

1. Professional development for teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals

2. Integration of the CCSS, NGSS, and ELD standards through technology-based instruction

3. Instructional materials aligned to the above standards

5. Requires that, as a condition of receiving funding, the governing body of the LEA:

1. Develop a spending plan, adopted by the governing board

2. Report expenditure information to the California Department of Education (CDE), including purchases made and the number of personnel trained

6. Requires that the CDE report this information to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature.

7. Provides that the article will not be implemented unless funding is provided for that purpose in the annual budget act or other statute.

8. Requires that $1 billion be allocated to LEAs for the purpose of the Implementation Fund.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Through 2013-14 budget related legislation (AB 86, Chapter 48, Statutes of 2013), establishes a Common Core Implementation Block Grant to support the implementation of CCSS, NGSS, and the ELD standards, and appropriates $1.25 billion in one-time funding for that purpose.

2. Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt or reject content standards in English language arts and mathematics and requires that at least 85% of those standards to be those developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative consortium.

3. Requires the SPI to convene a group of science experts to recommend science content standards for adoption to the SBE, utilizing the Next Generation Science Standards as the basis for their deliberations and recommendations. Requires the SBE to adopt, reject, or modify the standards. This section is now repealed.

4. Requires the SPI, in consultation with the SBE, to update, revise, and align the English language development standards to the Common Core State Standards, and requires the SBE to adopt or reject those revised standards.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

Need for the bill. The author’s office states: “California is in the process of overhauling its curriculum standards for English language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. Shifts to the Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and English Language Development Standards will equip students with the skills and knowledge needed for college and career success. The new content standards and their accompanying computer-based assessments require districts to properly train teachers, update instructional materials, and increase the integration of technology.

Based on the cost of implementing previous content standards, the Department of Education estimated that Common Core would cost $3 billion to successfully implement. However, since the standards were adopted, only $1.25 billion has been dedicated to the implementation of Common Core. The Common Core Implementation Block Grant of 2013-14 was a critical first investment but districts continue to have great need as they shift to the new content standards.”

Prior Common Core Implementation Block Grant and mandates backlog funding. The 2013-14 budget appropriated $1.25 billion for a Common Core Implementation Block Grant to support the implementation of the CCSS, the NGSS, and the ELD standards.

The 2014-15 budget appropriated $400 million in partial payment of the backlog of K-12 education mandate claims, and expressed Legislative intent that the funding be used for the implementation of the above standards.

Governor’s Budget proposal for 2015-16. The 2015-16 Governor’s Budget proposes a one-time payment of $1.1 billion toward the mandates backlog and suggests that LEAs use the funds for the implementation of the above standards. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, as of October, 2014, there was an estimated backlog of $4.8 billion in unpaid mandate claims.

This bill proposes that the issues of standards implementation and the mandate backlog be addressed through separate appropriations. The author’s office indicates that the funding source for this bill is anticipated one-time Proposition 98 revenues in excess of those budgeted in the Governor’s Budget. The Legislative Analyst’s Office has projected that a higher level of one-time revenue will be available for appropriation in this year’s budget process.

NGSS-aligned Science Framework delayed. The CDE reports that the revision of the science framework (which reflects the NGSS) has encountered delays and will not be completed by the planned date of January 31, 2016. They report a revised completion date of January 31, 2017. This in turn will delay the adoption of instructional materials aligned to the new standards.

How did districts spend the 2013 Common Core Implementation Block Grant funds? The Association of California School Administrators recently conducted a survey on the expenditure of the 2013 Common Core Implementation Block Grant funds by school districts. The survey found a fairly even distribution of expenditures in the three allowable categories (professional development, instructional materials, and technology), with slightly more interest in professional development activities. When asked about how any new funding would be spent, district priorities were again fairly evenly distributed among the three categories. When asked how new money devoted to technology in support of new assessments would be spent, the four priorities of hardware, connectivity, professional development, and classroom space/facilities were also equally prioritized, with the exception of classroom space, in which was rated a lower priority.

Related legislation. AB 2319 (Bonilla) of the 2013-14 Session would have established the Innovation, Training, and Common Core Implementation Fund to provide funding for professional development aligned to new academic content standards, education technology, and instructional materials aligned to new content standards. The bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Association of California School Administrators (sponsor)

Antioch Unified School District

Association of American Publishers, Inc.

Brentwood Union School District

California Federation of Teachers

California Science Teachers Association

California STEM Learning Network

Children Now

Coalition for Adequate School Housing

Contra Costa County Office of Education

Corona-Norco Unified School District

Education Trust-West

Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Pleasanton Unified School District

Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

TechAmerica

TechNet

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087