Instructional materials: English language development.

(1) Existing law requires the development of curriculum frameworks and adoption of instructional materials for use in elementary and secondary schools to be conducted in accordance with specified policies and procedures adopted by the State Board of Education. This bill would require that those state board policies ensure that the curriculum frameworks for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and instructional materials for kindergarten and grades 1 to 8, inclusive, include English language development standards and strategies in the 4 core subjects that address English language development and the needs of pupils with disabilities. (2) Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt basic instructional materials for use in kindergarten and grades 1 to 8, inclusive, and to ensure that basic instructional materials in mathematics and reading are based on fundamental skills required by those subjects. This bill would require the materials in mathematics and reading also to be based on English language development for pupils for whom English is a 2nd language. (3) The Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission is required to develop criteria for evaluating instructional materials submitted for adoption. This bill would require the criteria to include directions to publishers to align lessons and teacher's editions to address the needs of English learners and pupils with disabilities. (4) Existing law requires the governing board of a school district maintaining one or more high schools to adopt instructional materials for use in high schools under its control. This bill would require those governing boards to ensure that English learners and pupils with disabilities are provided appropriate instructional materials in all 4 core subjects. (5) Existing law establishes the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program and states legislative intent regarding this statewide testing program. Existing law requires each school district, charter school, and county office of education to administer to each of its pupils in grades 2 to 11, inclusive, a standards-based achievement test as part of the program. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature that the reauthorized Standardized Testing and Reporting Program meet specified requirements regarding performance measures, the assessment of English learners and pupils with disabilities, and accommodations for the assessment of English learners and pupils with disabilities. (6) Existing law establishes the Mathematics and Reading Professional Development Program, administered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, under which a local educational agency is eligible to apply for and receive incentive funding to provide teachers, instructional aides, and paraprofessionals with instruction and training in the areas of mathematics and reading. This bill would authorize eligible elementary and secondary teachers to participate in 40 hours of instruction in specified training and instructional strategies as an option for fulfilling a specified percentage of training hours under the program.