SB 1067: Pupil instruction: math assessments.

Existing law requires the State Board of Education, on or before January 31, 2024, to appoint an independent panel of experts for the purpose of creating an approved list of evidence-based, culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate screening instruments for pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 to assess pupils for risk of reading difficulties, including possible neurological disorders such as dyslexia, as specified. Existing law requires the governing board or body of a school district, county office of education, or charter school serving pupils in kindergarten or grades 1 or 2 to adopt, on or before June 30, 2025, one or more screening instruments from the approved list to assess pupils for risk of reading difficulties, as specified, and commencing no later than the 202526 school year, requires those local educational agencies to assess each pupil in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 for risk of reading difficulties using the screening instrument or instruments adopted by the governing board or body of the local educational agency, as specified.

This bill would, on or before July 31, 2027, require the state board to approve and the State Department of Education to post on its internet website criteria and guidance for selecting evidence-based, culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate mathematics diagnostic assessments for pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 to assess pupils mathematics knowledge and learning needs and identify pupils in need of additional support. The bill would require the department, on or before January 31, 2028, to (1) adopt diagnostic assessments pursuant to the criteria, and to (2) develop and publish on its internet website a list of those adopted assessments. assessments, and (3) post on its internet website additional guidance to assist local educational agencies in selecting diagnostic assessments from the approved list, as provided. The bill would require the list to include diagnostic assessments that are developed for both English-speaking and non-English-speaking pupils, English learners and non-English learners, as provided. The bill would require the state board and the department to solicit stakeholder input when developing the criteria, guidance, and list of diagnostic assessments pursuant to these provisions and to allow for public comment. The bill would authorize the department to periodically update the list of approved assessments.

The bill would require the governing board or body of a school district, county office of education, or charter school serving pupils in kindergarten or grades 1 or 2 to adopt, on or before June 30, 2028, one or more diagnostic assessments from the adopted list to assess pupils mathematics knowledge and learning needs. The bill would authorize a local educational agency to satisfy this requirement by continuing to use using a diagnostic assessment that is not on the adopted list if the governing board or body self-certifies that the assessment tool meets the above-described criteria. The bill, commencing no later than the 202829 school year, would require those local educational agencies to assess each pupil in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 for mathematics knowledge using the diagnostic assessment or assessments adopted by the governing board or body of the local educational agency unless the pupils parent or guardian opts out of the assessment in writing, as provided. agency. The bill would require a local educational agency to provide parents or guardians of pupils eligible for assessment with information about the assessment and to make pupil results available to parents or guardians, as required by the state board, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would require the department, by June 30, 2027, to curate and maintain on its internet website guidance and resources on evidence-based support, intervention, and instruction strategies aligned with the Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.

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 the statutory provisions noted above.