Bill Text: CA SB1324 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Science education: science curriculum.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-04-25 - Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [SB1324 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB1324-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 1324	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wyland

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2012

   An act to add Section 52952 to the Education Code, relating to
science education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1324, as introduced, Wyland. Science education: science
curriculum.
   The California Constitution requires the Legislature to encourage
by all suitable means the promotion of intellectual, scientific,
moral, and agricultural improvement. Under existing law, the
Legislature finds and declares that improved science education in
elementary and secondary schools contributes to improvements in pupil
performance. Existing law provides for the establishment by the
University of California, upon approval by the regents, of the
California Science Project for purposes of providing science
education to public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary school
personnel located in rural, urban, and suburban areas throughout the
state.
   This bill would make specified findings and declarations and would
require the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board
of Education to consider ways to increase the number of pupils who
go to college and graduate with degrees in the various scientific and
engineering fields. The bill would require the Superintendent and
the state board to direct the appropriate entity to revise the
science teaching frameworks and standards, as specified, and to
incorporate in the science curriculum applied mathematics, reading
comprehension, expository writing, analytical, intellectual, and
creative skills, and engineering elements.
   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.  The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following:
   (a) Science and technical innovation is critical for the future of
California.
   (b) California is not producing enough scientists and engineers to
meet the challenges that businesses located in this state will face
in the global competition of the future.
  SEC. 2.  Section 52952 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   52952.  (a) The Superintendent and the state board shall consider
ways to increase the number of pupils who go to college and graduate
with degrees in the various scientific and engineering fields,
including either of the following:
   (1) Recruiting more science teachers through incentives and
public-private partnerships designed to encourage pupils to go to
college, major in science and related fields, and enter teaching
careers.
   (2) Encouraging businesses in the private sector to participate in
educating pupils and in offering them exposure to possible careers
in the science and engineering fields.
   (b) To increase the number of pupils who go to college and
graduate with degrees in the various scientific and engineering
fields, the Superintendent and the state board shall direct the
appropriate entity to do the following:
   (1) Revise the science teaching frameworks and standards, if
necessary, to reflect the model curriculum developed by organizations
of outstanding scientists, such as the National Academy of Science.
   (2) Incorporate in the science curriculum applied mathematics,
reading comprehension, and expository writing in describing
observations and experiments.
   (3) Incorporate in the science curriculum analytical,
intellectual, and creative skills required to pose and investigate
scientific questions.
   (4) Incorporate in the science curriculum engineering elements in
a manner designed to engage pupils.