California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 108

Introduced by Assembly Member Wagner

February 21, 2014

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 108—Relative to Computer Science Education Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 108, as introduced, Wagner. Education: Computer Science Education Week.

This measure would designate the week of December 8, 2014, as Computer Science Education Week.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The field of computer science plays a critical role
in transforming society; and

WHEREAS, Computer technology is an integral part of the
culture and is transforming how people interact with each other
and the world around them; and

WHEREAS, The field of computer science is transforming
industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation in
all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in established
economic sectors; and

WHEREAS, The field of computer science underpins the
information technology sector of our economy, which is a
significant contributor to the economic output of the United States;
and

WHEREAS, The information technology sector is uniquely
positioned to help with economic recovery through research and
development of new innovations; and

WHEREAS, With the growing importance of computing in
society, the need for pupils to understand the fundamentals of
computing and the significant challenges elementary and secondary
computer science education faces, broad support for computer
science education is needed to catalyze reform; and

WHEREAS, Providing pupils a chance to participate in
high-quality computer science activities exposes them to the rich
opportunities the field offers and provides critical thinking skills
that will serve them throughout their lives; and

WHEREAS, Computer science education is important in the
development of higher order thinking skills of pupils; and

WHEREAS, Elements of computer science courses benefit all
pupils, not just those who are studying to become computer
programmers; and

WHEREAS, A strong computer science education with basic
skills in computational thinking is beneficial to all pupils; and

WHEREAS, All pupils deserve a thorough preparation in
computer science education, including access to qualified teachers,
technology, and age-appropriate curriculum needed to learn
computer science at the elementary and secondary levels of
education; and

WHEREAS, Computer science education has challenges to
address, including distinguishing computer science from
technology literacy and providing adequate professional
development for computer science teachers; and

WHEREAS, The field of computer science has significant equity
barriers to address, including attracting more participation by
females and underrepresented minorities to all levels and branches;
and

WHEREAS, Advances in computer science depend upon the
contribution of all, irrespective of race, gender, or age; and

WHEREAS, Grace Murray Hopper, one of the first females in
the field of computer science, engineered new programming
languages and pioneered standards for computer systems, which
laid the foundation for many advancements in computer science;
and

WHEREAS, The goals of Computer Science Education Week
are to highlight the crucial role that computer science plays in
transforming our society and how computer science enables
innovation and creates economic opportunities and to examine
making computer science classes a core part of California pupils’
education by allowing these classes to count toward the
mathematics or science credits necessary to fulfill graduation
requirements rather than an elective; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the week of
December 8, 2014, as Computer Science Education Week; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.