July 11, 2008
Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:
APPLICATION FOR THE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK AND EVALUATION CRITERIA COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENCE FRAMEWORK
Pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 5, EDUCATION, Section 9511, the California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) are inviting applicants for the Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committee (CFCC) for the update of the Science Framework for California Public Schools Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (Science Framework). Curriculum frameworks provide guidance to teachers, administrators, and parents on how a standards-based curriculum is implemented in the classroom. Frameworks are updated periodically to ensure that they reflect current and confirmed research on education in the subject area. Applicants will be submitted to the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission (Curriculum Commission). The Curriculum Commission will submit a list of recommended applicants to the SBE for appointment in March 2009.
The CFCC will hold five meetings in 2009 to conduct the work of updating the Science Framework. The meetings have been tentatively scheduled for the following dates in 2009: June 18-19, July 30-31, August 26-27, October 1-2, and October 29-30, 2009. All CFCC meetings will be public and take place in Sacramento. The CFCC will work with a primary writer contracted with the CDE to prepare a draft of the Science Framework that will be submitted to the Curriculum Commission for field review. The SBE will take final action on the Science Framework no later than September 2010.
The CFCC will include between 9 and 20 members, who will be selected to ensure balanced representation of regions, knowledge, and grade level experience.
An application (DOC; 107KB; 7pp.) for the CFCC is enclosed with this letter. You are encouraged to duplicate the application and distribute it to individuals you feel would make a positive contribution to the work of the CFCC. Please note that there is no stipend for service on the CFCC, but reimbursements for travel costs will be provided by the CDE. Unfortunately, the CDE cannot provide funds for substitute replacement. The applicant, the applicant’s supervisor, and the district superintendent should sign the form on pages 3 and 4; these signatures are necessary to confirm authorization of the applicant’s ability to commit to service on the CFCC, should he or she be appointed to the position.
If you have any questions regarding the CFCC or the framework update process, please contact Susan Martimo, Administrator, Curriculum Frameworks Unit, at 916-319-0446 or by e-mail at smartimo@cde.ca.gov. [Note, the preceding phone number and e-mail address are no longer valid. For more information, contact the Standards, Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division at 916-319-0881].
Sincerely,
JACK O’CONNELL
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Enclosure
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814