Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission
An Advisory body to the California State Board of Education
Final Minutes of Meeting: May 17, 2007
(Approved on September 27, 2007)
Report of Action
Thursday, May 17, 2007
| Curriculum Commissioners Present: | Curriculum Commissioners Absent: |
|---|---|
| Mary-Alicia McRae, Chair | Glee Johnson |
| Constance Tate, Vice Chair | Wendy Levine |
| John Brooks | Dr. Armida Ornelas |
| Katherine Crawford | Hon. Gene Mullin, Member of the Assembly |
| Patricia Dixon | Hon. Jack Scott, Member of the Senate |
| Michael Matsuda | |
| Lucy Medina | |
| Dr. Charles Munger, Jr. | |
| Dr. RoseMary Parga-Duran | |
| Becky Sullivan | |
| José Velasquez | |
| Richard Wagoner | |
| Kevin Wooldridge |
1. Full Curriculum Commission
A. Called to Order: 9:10 a.m. by Commission Chair McRae.
B. Salute to the flag led by Commissioner Dixon.
C. Overview of the Agenda
There was a change to the agenda. The History-Social Science SMC met today, however, upon advice from the California Department of Education (CDE) and State Board of Education (SBE) legal counsel, the issue of the framework development was not discussed and no action was taken. The CDE and SBE legal counsel will instruct the Commission how to proceed in the coming months. It may require the Curriculum Commission to have a special meeting later this summer to take up the issue.
D. Approval of Minutes for the January 12, 2007 Curriculum Commission Teleconference Meeting (Action)
Commissioner Wagoner moved to approve the January 12, 2007 Curriculum Commission Teleconference meeting minutes. Commissioner Brooks seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote of the members present (13-0).
E. Approval of the Minutes for the January 25-26, 2007 Curriculum Commission Meeting (Action)
Commissioner Dixon moved to approve the January 25-26, 2007 Curriculum Commission meeting minutes. Commissioner Velasquez seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote of the members present (13-0).
F. Approval of the Minutes for the February 20, 2007 Curriculum Commission Meeting (Action)
Commissioner Crawford moved to approve the February 20, 2007 Curriculum Commission meeting minutes. Commissioner Wagoner seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote of the members present (13-0).
G. Approval of the Minutes for the March 20, 2007 Mathematics SMC Teleconference Meeting (Action)
Commissioner Munger moved to approve the March 20, 2007 Mathematics SMC Teleconference meeting minutes. Commissioner Crawford seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote of the members present (13-0).
H. Report of the Chair
Chair McRae reported on the action of the SBE on the application for Instructional Materials Advisory Panel (IMAP) and Content Review Panel (CRP) for the Reading/Language Arts/English Language Development (RLA/ELD) adoption. The SBE received the Curriculum Commission’s original action on November 30, 2006 and was informed of the Commission’s discussion at the February 20, 2007 meeting via SBE staff memo. In addition, the SBE took testimony from organizations such as Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and Californians Together. The goal of the SBE was to create a consensus on the application to ensure a wide variety of appointees.
Chair McRae also thanked Mathematics SMC Chair Munger for his leadership in the mathematics adoption training.
I. Executive Director’s Report
Thomas Adams reported on the Governor’s May revise budget. He noted that there was no change in the instructional materials funding from the last budget. He highlighted some areas of interest. The CDE’s Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division (CFIR) will receive the additional funding to cover the costs of the 2007 Mathematics Primary Adoption. Also, the new proposal for the English learners after school programs was cut from $30 million to $20 million. In addition, Dr. Adams reported that there is no new draft version of the Title 5 Regulations. The new draft version, incorporating the many comments received, is projected to be released at the July SBE meeting. The new Title 5 Regulations will include the textbook weight standards which will hopefully be in place for the 2008 RLA Primary Adoption. Last, Dr. Adams reported that Anthony Monreal is the new Deputy Superintendent of the Curriculum and Instruction Branch.
J. Report from the State Board of Education
Roger Magyar, Executive Director, SBE, reported that the SBE is working hard on the proposed draft Title 5 Regulations. He thanked the Curriculum Commission for providing a leadership role in several SBE items. Commissioner Munger was instrumental on the work of assisting with assessment. Last, Mr. Magyar administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner Crawford who was not present at the January 2007 meeting.
K. Correspondence/Requests from the State Board of Education: None
L. Legislative Update
Lupita Cortez Alcala, Director, Legislative Affairs Division, gave a legislative update. She provided the Commissioners with a written summary status report and highlighted some areas of interest.
M. Special Education Update
Georgianne Knight, Administrator, Policy and Program Services Unit, Special Education Division, introduced Allan Lloyd-Jones, Special Education Consultant, who gave a presentation on the Superintendent’s Autism Advisory Committee (SAAC). Assembly Bill 2513 (Pavley) authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene an autism advisory group to develop recommendations identifying the means by which public and nonpublic schools, including charter schools, can better serve students with autism and their families. The SAAC committee’s last meeting will be on November 1, 2007.
N. Approved September 28-29, 2006 Curriculum Commission Meeting Minutes (Action)
The Curriculum Commission needed to clarify the September 28-29, 2006 meeting minutes which they approved on November 30, 2006. On page 29 of the approved September 28-29, 2006 minutes, CFIR staff proposed to add the sentence: “No action was taken by the Commission.” The proposed sentence clarified the Commission’s position that there was no action taken and the Commission’s view was different from the personal position of former Commissioner Stan Metzenberg. There was a discussion. Commissioner Munger stated that the proposed added sentence is a fair representation of Stan Metzenberg’s arguments.
Commissioner Munger moved to accept the proposed additional sentence. Commissioner Tate seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion was carried by a unanimous vote of the members present (13-0).
O. 2008 Commission Calendar (Action)
With the anticipated number of programs that will be submitted for the 2008 Reading/Language Arts/English Language Development adoption, the Curriculum Commission discussed the need to add an additional day to the September 2008 Commission meeting calendar. There was a brief discussion. Commissioner Velasquez moved to add September 24, 2008 to the Curriculum Commission meeting calendar. Commissioner Crawford seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of the members present (13-0).
P. Update on Proposed California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Sections 9510-9530 (Information)
Thomas Adams reported that the Proposed California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Sections 9510-9539 is still under revision. The revised Title 5 Regulations is scheduled to be on the SBE July 2007 agenda.
Q. Other Matters/Public Comment:
Commissioner Munger, liaison to the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI), advised the Curriculum Commission to budget time for work that will be coming to them involving the EEI curriculum. The first EEI curriculum modules will be submitted to the Curriculum Commission for review and comment in September 2007. Commissioner Munger stated that he will request a presentation by the California Environmental Protection Agency at the September Commission meeting.
2. Executive Committee
Commission Chair McRae called the Executive Committee meeting to order.
A. Committee Assignments (Action)
Commission Chair McRae reported that newly appointed Legislative Commission Member Mullin expressed interest in being appointed to the Reading/Language Arts (RLA), History-Social Science (HSS), and Physical Education (PE) SMCs. Both the HSS and PE SMC had room for an additional member; however, the RLA SMC was already at its maximum. The committee had a discussion then decided to reconvene during the full Commission meeting tomorrow.
B. Handbook on the Organization and Operation of the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission (Information)
Thomas Adams stated that the Handbook needs to be updated, but it should be done after the next version of the Title 5 Regulations. The committee briefly discussed what areas need to be updated in the Handbook. Some suggested areas include:
How does the Commission conduct its business?
When a new Commissioner is appointed mid-year, how do you deal with committee assignments?
What is the role of a SMC member versus a non-member?
What is the role and expectations of a Curriculum Commissioner during deliberations?
What is the role of the SMC chair and the Commission Chair in an adoption?
C. Other Matters/Public Comment: None
3. Reading/Language Arts/English Language Development (RLA/ELD) Subject Matter Committee (SMC)
SMC Chair Sullivan called the RLA/ELD SMC meeting to order.
A. Report on the State Board of Education Action on the IMAP/CRP Application Template (Information)
SMC Chair Sullivan reported that the SBE approved the IMAP/CRP application templates at their March 7, 2007 meeting. The applications are currently on the CDE Web site: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/im/
B. 2008 RLA/ELD Primary Adoption (information)
1. Recruitment of IMAP/CRP Members
As part of the 2007 RLA/ELD Adoption, the SMC will assist the CDE in the dissemination and recruitment of the IMAP/CRP applications. The commissioners will be working with school site administrators, district superintendents, county offices of education, and local schools in the recruitment efforts.
2. Update on Timeline
On March 7, 2007, the SBE adopted the 2008 RLA/ELD Primary Adoption Timeline. The timeline contains key dates for the 2008 adoption.
Training of IMAP/CRP members is scheduled for April 7-11, 2008. Due to the comprehensive nature of the five programs and the five criteria categories described in the evaluation criteria for the 2008 RLA/ELD Primary Adoption, a second week of training was proposed, April 21-25, 2008. Deliberations are scheduled for July 14-18, 2008, and a second session of deliberations was proposed for July 28-August 1, 2008. The Curriculum Commission will make their recommendations to the SBE to update the RLA/ELD Adoption Timeline in September 2007. CDE has initiated a contract with the Doubletree Hotel to hold its training and deliberations for the 2008 RLA/ELD Primary Adoption.
3. Survey of Publisher Participation
A survey was distributed to publishers to determine the number of programs publishers are planning to submit for the adoption. This information will assist the Instructional Resources Unit in planning the activities for the RLA/ELD Primary Adoption. Twenty-six publishers provided the department with information on programs being developed. CFIR reported on the need to have approximately 200-225 IMAPs and 30-40 CRPs, and 26-30 panels to review the instructional materials.
C. Reading/Language Arts Framework Update (Information)
Susan Martimo, Administrator, Curriculum Frameworks Unit, provided an update on the status of the RLA Framework. Over 15,000 copies of the RLA Framework have been sold. Several RLA Framework presentations have been held for CDE staff members.
D. Other Matters/Public Comment
SMC Chair Sullivan proposed a Publisher Briefing in late August on the sixty minutes of English Language Development instruction in Programs 2 and 3 of the Criteria for Evaluating Instructional Materials, and to discuss the corresponding matrices.
4. Mathematics Subject Matter Committee (SMC)
SMC Chair Munger called the Mathematics SMC meeting to order.
A. Status of 2007 Mathematics Primary Adoption (Information)
Mary Sprague, Consultant, CFIR Division, provided a brief update on the status of the adoption.
B. Schedule Planning Meeting for Deliberations Preparation (Action)
SMC Chair Munger explained that the committee needs to select a date for a meeting with all commissioners participating in the 2007 Mathematics Primary Adoption Deliberations Sessions I and II in July. The purpose of the meeting will be an overview of the agenda for the general session on the first day of deliberations as well as training commissioners/facilitators and staff on the deliberations/facilitation process. CFIR staff suggested Tuesday, June 19, 2007 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The committee had a brief discussion about availability and other suggested dates.
Commissioner Tate moved to approve June 19 and 25, 2007 for a meeting to plan for Deliberations Sessions I and II for the 2007 Mathematics Primary Adoption. Commissioners Wagoner seconded the motion. There was a brief discussion and no public comment. The motion was approved by unanimous vote of the members present (5-0).
C. Other Matters/Public Comment:
Doris Trochez, Everett Middle School, San Francisco. She is a Spanish speaking parent who expressed her concerns (through a translator) about Spanish speaking students who do not have mathematics textbooks that are translated for them. She noted that this made it very difficult for these students to learn for they have to get people to help them translate the mathematics textbooks.
Lorena Melgarejo, San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP) – PICO California, translated for Ms. Trochez. In addition, she expressed some concerns other Spanish speaking parents have conveyed to her. She asked the Commission to take the availability of Spanish translated textbooks into consideration when recommending textbooks for adoption.
5. Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Subject Matter Committee (SMC)
SMC Vice Chair Brooks called the Visual and Performing Arts SMC meeting to order.
A. Report on the California Arts Education Strategic Task Force (Information)
Commission Chair McRae provided a brief report on the three meetings of the California Arts Education Strategic Task Force. She read the draft recommendations of the Task Force to the SMC and raised a caution about the Task Force’s interest in having CDE produce a new state curriculum in the arts, noting that we already have content standards and new K-8 instructional materials that were just adopted with the 2006 Visual and Performing Arts Primary Adoption.
B. Update on Funding for VPA Instructional Materials (Information)
Commissioner Brooks referred the SMC to the handout prepared by CFIR staff on current-year funding sources for visual and performing arts instructional materials.
C. Update on Instructional Materials Adoption (Information)
Ken McDonald of the CFIR staff provided a brief update, noting that the adopted instructional materials are now listed on the online Price List and Order Forms at the CDE Web site and that the VPA Adoption Report is currently in draft format.
D. Other Matters/Public Comment: None
6. Physical Education Subject Matter Committee (SMC)
SMC Chair Wooldridge called the Physical Education SMC meeting to order.
A. Framework Development (Information/Action)
SMC Chair Wooldridge provided an update on the work of the Curriculum Framework and Criteria Committee (framework committee). Commissioners Munger and Crawford reported on the April meeting of the framework committee. No action was taken.
B. Schedule Meeting of SMC to Prepare for the Framework Field Review (Action)
SMC Chair Wooldridge explained the next steps in the framework development and adoption process. He noted that two Subject Matter Committee meetings would be necessary. At a meeting between mid-August and mid-September, the Subject Matter Committee would discuss the scope of the revisions that are required before the draft framework is ready for the field review, the process for the Subject Matter Committee’s revisions, and a draft survey form. A second meeting in October or early November would focus on finalizing the draft framework and survey form for the November 2007 Curriculum Commission meeting. Under this timeline, the draft framework could be approved for field review at the November Commission meeting.
Commissioner Crawford moved to ask the full Commission to authorize two Subject Matter Committee meetings between the middle of August and the end of November, the actual dates and times of which will be determined. Commissioner Dixon seconded the motion. There was no discussion and no public comment. The motion was approved by unanimous vote of the members present (4-0).
C. Other Matters/Public Comment: None
7. Foreign Language Subject Matter Committee (SMC)
SMC Chair Velasquez called the Foreign Language SMC meeting to order.
A. Update on Standards Development (Information)
SMC Chair Velasquez provided a report on the status of the development of foreign language content standards. Due to the lack of funding, no committee work has been done on the development of content standards. Until the 2007-2008 budget is signed, the Commission will not know if funding for content standards development will be available for 2007-2008. If funding for content standards is not available, some decisions about updating the Foreign Language Framework will need to be discussed.
B. Other Matters/Public Comment: None
8. Electronic Learning Resources Committee
Committee Chair Velasquez called the Electronic Learning Resources Committee to order.
A. Education Technology Update (Information)
Chair Velasquez asked for questions or discussion about the report from Barbara Thalacker, manager of the CDE Education Technology Office. There was no discussion.
He then briefly reviewed the new CLRN e-Newsletter which is available at http://www.clrn.org
B. Other Matters/Public Comment: None
9. History-Social Science Subject Matter Committee (SMC)
SMC Chair Matsuda called the History–Social Science SMC meeting to order. At the start of the SMC meeting, Tom Adams read a statement that said that due to advice from counsel, the items addressing the 2009 History–Social Science Framework were being pulled from this meeting’s agenda. These items may conflict with the judge’s decision in the Hindu America Foundation v. California State Board of Education case. Dr. Adams raised the possibility of going to the judge and requesting permission to proceed with the framework development.
A. Plan for Updating the History-Social Science Framework (Information/Action)
Item Pulled
B. Approval of the Curriculum Framework and Criteria Committee Application (Information/Action)
Item Pulled
C. Update on the California Native Americans Supplemental Materials Project (Information)
Ken McDonald of the CFIR staff provided a brief history of the project to date. Christopher Marxen, Assistant Director of the California Research Bureau of the State Library, provided an update on the current status of the project. Mr. Marxen stated that the grade eight component of the curriculum will be ready to submit to the Commission in August. Mr. Marxen took questions from the SMC asking about the reasons for the curriculum’s delay, and for the absence of the curriculum for grades four and twelve. Due to the delay in completing the curriculum, the funding originally provided for the review of this curriculum reverted back to the general fund. Unless funding for the review of the materials is included in the 2007-2008 budget, the Commission will not be able to conduct its review of that component.
D. Other Matters/Public Comment:
Several members of the Sikh community spoke to the Commission about inclusion of Sikhs and Sikhism in the upcoming framework revision and in future instructional materials. They included Ram Singh, Onkar Bindra, Sikh Temple, Sacramento, and Dr. Lakhbir Singh, Chabot College. Mr. Bindra mentioned a list of page references in the current framework where Sikhs could be included; he was asked to submit that information in writing to the Commission.
Report of Action
Friday, May 18, 2007
Curriculum Commissioners Present:
Mary-Alicia McRae, Chair
Constance Tate, Vice Chair (departed 9:45 a.m.)
John Brooks
Katherine Crawford
Patricia Dixon
Michael Matsuda
Lucy Medina
Dr. Charles Munger, Jr.
RoseMary Parga-Duran
Becky Sullivan
José Velasquez
Richard Wagoner
Kevin Wooldridge
Curriculum Commissioners Absent:
Wendy Levine
Glee Johnson
Dr. Armida Ornelas
Hon. Gene Mullin, Member of the Assembly
Hon. Jack Scott, Member of the Senate
10. Health Subject Matter Committee (SMC)
SMC Vice Chair Wagoner called the Health SMC meeting to order and reported that there were no action items on the agenda for this meeting.
A. Update on the Health Standards (Information)
Mary Marks, Consultant, School Health Connections and Healthy Start Office, provided a brief update on the status of the draft health standards.
B. Other Matters/Public Comment: None
11. Science Subject Matter Committee (SMC)
SMC Chair Munger called the Science SMC meeting to order.
A. Update on Science Assessment (Information)
Diane Hernandez, a consultant with the Standardized Testing and Reporting Office, gave an overview and update of the programs that assess science in California and briefly discussed the issue of “Pluto” and how it is being treated in regards to science assessment. Ms. Hernandez distributed a table of key standardized tests assessing science in California including the California Standardized Test (CST) and the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) which are under the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Assessment, and the General Education Development (GED) Test. She described how science is assessed across each program, the grade levels assessed, and the recent results reported for each assessment.
Ms. Hernandez also reported that, as a result of the action taken in August 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to change the definition of the term “planet” and Pluto’s subsequent designation as a “dwarf planet,” the California Department of Education (CDE) staff, as well as the CDE’s contractor, Educational Testing Service, carefully reviewed the 2007 assessments for conflicting test items and found none. They also reviewed the test item bank and found a couple of instances where the item referred to Pluto or celestial bodies or the number of planets in the solar system. There were less than ten of these items that were flagged so they would not be used in future assessments.
B. Update on Instructional Materials Adoption (Information)
Suzanne Rios, Administrator, Instructional Resources Unit, provided a brief update on the post adoption activities for 2006 Science Primary adoption. Ms. Rios reported that CFIR staff was completing the verification of the publisher’s final print materials to confirm that all edits and corrections and revisions for legal and social compliance were made to the programs. In addition, all of the adopted science programs have been listed on the Department’s “Price List of Adopted Materials” Web page. CFIR staff have also assigned the adopted programs submitted in Spanish (Spanish Alternate formats) to reviewers on contract with the Department. These reviewers will assess the materials for accuracy in the translation.
C. Other Matters/Public Comment: None
12. Full Curriculum Commission Reconvenes
A. Reports/Action from Subcommittees:
Executive Committee
The Full Commission continued their discussion on the committee assignment for Assembly Member Mullin.
Action #1
Commission Chair McRae brought forward to the full Commission the following motion: To ensure the fullest participation of members of the legislature on the Curriculum Commission, legislative members shall receive all information from all SMCs when sent to SMC members and are encouraged to participate in SMC meetings and discussions.
Commissioner Munger moved and Commissioner Matsuda seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion was carried by a unanimous vote of the members present (11-0). At the time of the vote, Commissioner Velasquez was not present.
Action #2
Commission Chair McRae brought forward to the full Commission the following motion:
The issue regarding legislative members will be dealt with when the Curriculum Commission handbook is revised and this issue will be on the September agenda. Commissioner Wooldridge moved and Commissioner Crawford seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion was carried by a unanimous vote of the members present (11-0). At the time of the vote, Commissioner Velasquez was not present.
Reading Language Arts/English Language Development (RLA/ELD) Subject Matter Committee — No Action Item
Mathematics Subject Matter Committee
Action #1
SMC Chair Munger brought forward to the full Commission the following motion:
To approve a date for a meeting, in Sacramento, to plan Deliberations Sessions I and II for the 2007 Mathematics Adoption. This meeting should be attended by all Commissioners, facilitators, and staff participating in the adoption. Two possible meeting dates were approved by the Mathematics SMC (June 19, 2007 or June 25, 2007 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). The training will be video taped and Commissioners unable to attend the meeting may view the tape and contact CFIR staff if they have questions. After checking with all Commissioners on their availability, one of these dates could be cancelled. Commissioner Parga-Duran moved and Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion was carried by a unanimous vote of the members present (12-0).
Visual and Performing Arts Subject Matter Committee — No Action Item
Physical Education Subject Matter Committee
Action #1
SMC Chair Wooldridge brought forward to the full Commission the following motion:
The Curriculum Commission authorize the Physical Education SMC to hold two meetings between the middle of August and the end of November, the actual dates and times of which will be determined. Commissioner Matsuda moved and Commissioner Dixon seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion carried by unanimous vote of the members present (12-0).
Foreign Language Subject Matter Committee — No Action Item
Electronic Learning Resources Committee — No Action Item
History-Social Science Subject Matter Committee — No Action Item
Health Subject Matter Committee — No Action Item
Science Subject Matter Committee — No Action Item
B. Reports from Commission Liaisons:
Commissioner Matsuda, Educating for Democracy Committee Liaison, directed the Commissioners to the correspondence that was included in the action folder from the Educating for Democracy Committee regarding the update of the History—Social Science Framework.
C. Individual Commissioner Reports: None
D. Other Matters/Public Comment: None
Commission Chair McRae adjourned the full Curriculum Commission meeting at 11:01 a.m.
