Amended in Assembly June 24, 2015

Amended in Senate June 2, 2015

Amended in Senate April 23, 2015

Amended in Senate April 6, 2015

Senate Bill No. 359

Introduced by Senator Mitchell

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(Coauthors: Senators Beall and Hancock)

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(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 amended, Mitchell. California Mathematics 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 California Mathematics Placement Act of 2015. The bill would require governing boards of local educational agencies, as defined, serving pupils in grade 8 or 9, or both, that do not have a mathematics placement policy as of January 1, 2016, to develop, adopt in a regularly scheduled public meeting, and implement a fair, objective, and transparent mathematics placement policy with specified elements. The bill would further require each governing board of a local educational agency to ensure that its mathematics placement policy is posted prominently on its Internet Web site. By imposing additional requirements on local educational agencies, the bill would impose 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 fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM).

(b)  begin insert Placement in appropriate mathematics courses is critically
important for a pupil during his or her middle and high school
years. end insert 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,
including admissions at the California State University and
University of California.

(c) The most egregious examples of mathematics misplacement
occur with successful pupils and, disproportionately, with
successful pupils of color. These successful pupils are achieving
a grade of “B” or better, or are testing at proficient or even
advanced proficiency on state assessments. Nevertheless, they are
held back to repeat 8th grade mathematics coursework rather than
advancing to the next course in the recommended mathematics
course sequence.

(d) Mathematics misplacement has far-reaching impacts on a
pupil’s confidence, general knowledge of mathematical concepts,
and high school experience, and may also impact the college career
opportunities available to the pupil.

(e) New research shows that it is less common for pupils of
color, even high-achieving pupils of color, to reach calculus by
grade 12 compared to their white and Asian peers.

(f) All pupils, regardless of race or ethnic background, deserve
an equal chance to advance in mathematics.

(g) With the shift towards implementation of the Common Core
State Standards for Mathematics, it is particularly important for
all pupils to have access to high-quality mathematics programs
that meet the goals and expectations of these standards.

(h) It is crucial for teachers and guidance personnel to advise
pupils and parents on the importance of accurate mathematics
course placement and its impact on future college eligibility so
pupils may take each course in the mathematics course sequence.

(i) California faces a looming shortage of college-educated
workers in an increasingly competitive global economy.

(j) A policy for correct mathematics placement must be
addressed in order to ensure a fair process and chance of success
for all pupils.

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
California Mathematics Placement Act of 2015.

(b) Governing boards of local educational agencies serving
pupils in grade 8 or 9, or both, that do not have a mathematics
placement policy as of January 1, 2016, shall develop, adopt in a
regularly scheduled public meeting, and implement a fair,
objective, and transparent mathematics placement policy that does
all of the following:

(1) Systematically takes begin delete current academic objective end delete begin insert multiple
objective academic end insert measures into consideration, such as begin delete statewide end delete
begin insert year-end grade 8 end insert assessments, pupil grades, and begin delete diagnostic
placement tests. end delete begin insert coursework. end insert

(2) Includes at least one begin delete progress checkpoint during end delete begin insert placement
checkpoint within the first month of end insert the academic year to begin insert ensure
accurate placement and end insert permit reevaluation of individual pupil
progress.

(3) Requires examination of begin insert aggregate end insert pupil placement data
annually to ensure that there is no disproportionate impact in the
course placement of pupils by race, gender, ethnicity, or
socioeconomic background. The local educational agency shall
report the aggregate results of this examination to the governing
board of the local educational agency and prominently post the
examination results on its Internet Web site. This report may be
included as part of the local educational agency’s accountability
report of its local control and accountability plan.

(4) Offers clear and timely recourse for each pupil and his or
her parent or legal guardian who questions the pupil’s placement.

(c) Each governing board of a local educational agency shall
ensure that its mathematics placement policy is posted prominently
on its Internet Web site.

(d) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency”
means county office of education, school district, state special
school, or direct-funded charter school as described in Section
47651.

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.