Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) announces that Senate Bill 1412, which would have closed a loophole in state regulations that would have protected the integrity of the curriculum development process for public school curriculums of grades K-12, has been vetoed by the Governor. SB 1412 is one of three education bills the Senator authored this year.
“As a mother of three young adults, I understand how crucial it is for students to receive an exceptional education throughout their elementary, middle, and high school years,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “I have been dedicated to ensuring that all California students have access to quality education. SB 1412 would have helped ensure that the process of developing curriculum frameworks remained balanced by fostering a neutral environment that ultimately benefits our children. It’s essential that we bring parity to the curriculum-setting process, with the same care and standards applied at all levels of education. I am saddened by the Governor’s decision to veto this bill but remain committed to improving educational standards for our children.”
SB 1412 would have prohibited individuals who profit from the sale of curriculum or professional development, and any of their representatives, from being eligible to serve on the Instructional Quality Commission’s (IQC) Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committees and the writing teams of curriculum frameworks. Further, it would have prohibited them from communicating with those evaluating and adopting instructional materials. Existing regulations provide these conflict-of-interest protections for grades K-8. SB 1412 would simply have expanded the protections to include grades 9-12.
“It is unfortunate that Senate Bill 1412 has been vetoed. It would have brought the conflict-of-interest portion of the Education Code into the 21st century,” said Brian Conrad, Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University. “By focusing broadly on curriculum vendors and encompassing the full timeline of the curricular framework process, it would have given the public more confidence that the creation and implementation of state curricula for K-12 adheres to appropriate ethical standards. Current state law prohibits the conflict-of-interest encountered by Richard Feynman in 1964, but it remains long overdue for an update.”
Professor Jelani Nelson, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley said, “SB 1412 tightens conflict of interest rules for serving in roles that set curricular guidelines for California's schools. Signing it into law should have been a no-brainer, and I'm shocked to see this outcome.”
SB 1412 is one of three education bills in Senator Ochoa Bogh’s Math Excellence bill package, which is dedicated to math reform and enhancing the quality of education across the state. Senator Ochoa Bogh remains committed to advocating for policies that empower students and prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.