SB3059 CD1

Report Title:

Education; Standards-based Curriculum; Performance Standards

Description:

Establishes criteria for schools and complexes to follow when developing and implementing an articulated and aligned standards-based curriculum. (CD1)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3059
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Although the State has established statewide standards and benchmarks, learner outcomes, assessments, promotion requirements, and graduation requirements, the legislature finds that Hawaii's public school system does not have an articulated and aligned standards-based curriculum to meet its goals.

In "The Link Between High School Reform and College Success for Low-Income and Minority Youth," a publication of the American Youth Policy Forum, the following two curriculum-related practices were included in the key practices most commonly cited for the success of low-income and minority high school students in college:

(1) Access to a rigorous academic common core curriculum for all students; and

(2) Alignment of the curriculum between various levels, such as high school and post-secondary school, and between levels within the kindergarten through twelfth grade system.

The purpose of this Act is to enable school complexes to develop and maintain an articulated and aligned standards-based curriculum to support teachers in helping all students to meet the Hawaii content and performance standards.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, part II, subpart B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Standards-based curriculum. (a) When developing a standards-based curriculum and implementing it in a school or complex, at the minimum, the curriculum shall:

(1) Be specific in its standards-based scope and sequence over a school year for each grade level and course;

(2) Be consistent in course content;

(3) Be aligned across all grade levels;

(4) Specifically address the state content and performance standards and related benchmark maps; and

(5) Be implemented in all appropriate classrooms in the school or complex.

(b) School complexes may choose to develop an articulated and aligned K-12 standards-based curriculum in one or more of the following core content areas:

(1) Language arts;

(2) Mathematics;

(3) Science; and

(4) Social studies.

(d) School complexes that develop a standards-based curriculum shall use standards-based formative assessment tools to monitor student progress, not less than on a quarterly basis throughout the school year.

(e) School complexes shall develop rigorous classroom-based performance assessments.

(f) School complexes may implement software programs at the school-level to help to align school course material with Hawaii content and performance and federal educational standards."

SECTION 3. The department of education shall submit annual progress reports to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2007, 2008, and 2009 regular sessions. These progress reports shall include information on the process of aligning course materials for all grades with Hawaii content and performance standards and federal educational standards, and on any vendor selected to provide its software program or programs to assist in course material alignment.

Additionally, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2007, 2008, 2009 regular sessions, the department of education shall submit to the legislature a second report that includes the following:

(1) An assessment of the implementation of articulated and aligned standards-based curricula in schools and complexes;

(2) Performance and competency indicators of student achievement for evaluating the implementation of a standards-based curriculum;

(3) A plan for a complex-by-complex development and implementation of a standards-based curriculum;

(4) Resource requirements and a time line to implement specific portions of the curriculum to other school complexes or possible statewide application; and

(5) Any need to contract with a curricula developer or consultant to carry out the purposes of this section.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $900,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to develop and maintain an articulated and aligned standards-based curriculum within a school complex, purchase quarterly content area assessment tools, and develop rigorous classroom-based performance assessments pursuant to this Act.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $800,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to provide for software implementation and support to align school course material with Hawaii content and performance standards and federal education standards pursuant to this Act.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $308,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the contractual services of programmers, data analysts, and clerical support to lay the foundation and generate reports for longitudinal study assessments pursuant to this Act.

SECTION 7. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 8. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.