AB 1530 Assembly Bill

BILL NUMBER: AB 1530	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 28, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chau

                        JANUARY 17, 2014

   An act  to add Article 7 (commencing with Section 51300) to
Chapter 2 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
  relating to school curriculum.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1530, as amended, Chau.  School   Model
 curriculum:  courses of study:  computer
science.
   Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to
 6,   12,  inclusive, to include 
instruction, beginning in grade 1 and continuing through grade 6,
 in  the following   various 
areas of  study:   study, including, but not
limited to,  English, mathematics,  and  social
 sciences, science, visual and performing arts, health, and
physical education, and other studies that may be prescribed by the
governing board, as defined.   sciences. Existing law
requires the State Department of Education to adopt model curricula
in certain areas of instruction, including, among others, driver
  's education and training, gang violence suppression, and
substance abuse prevention. 
   This bill would  state the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation that would add computer science to the adopted
course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive.  
encourage the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop or, as
needed, revise a model curriculum on computer science, and to submit
the model curriculum to the State Board of Education for adoption.
The bill, in addition to funds that may be appropriated by the
Legislature for purposes of implementing the provisions of the bill,
would authorize the Superintendent to seek out alternative nonstate
funding sources to defray the cost of developing the model
curriculum, as specified. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Article 7 (commencing with Section
51300) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the   Education Code   , to read:  

      Article 7.  Model Curriculum for Computer Science


   51300.  It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the
establishment of programs of instruction in computer science, with
instruction beginning as early as feasible for each school district.
   51301.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) Computer science is an established discipline at the
collegiate and postgraduate levels, but the integration of computer
science concepts into kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive,
curriculum has not kept pace in the United States.
   (b) Computer science education is not just about access to
computers or about preparing pupils to be passive users of
technology, it is about preparing pupils to be innovative creators of
new technologies.
   (c) Our educational system should prepare our pupils in
kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, with the fundamental
computer science knowledge, skills, insights, and perspectives they
need for future success and for a world in which computing is
everywhere. While computer usage in classrooms is increasing,
knowledge and familiarity about computing is not keeping pace.
   (d) The goal of the computer science curriculum in kindergarten
and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, should be to introduce the fundamental
concepts of computer science, including instruction on computational
thinking, algorithmic processes and principles, hardware and software
design, computer applications, and the impact of computers on
society, and to increase the knowledge of computer science for all
pupils, especially those pupils who are members of underrepresented
groups.
   51302.  The Superintendent is encouraged to develop or, as needed,
revise a model curriculum on computer science, and to submit the
model curriculum to the state board for adoption. Upon adoption, the
Superintendent shall make the model curriculum available on the
department's Internet Web site.
   51303.  In addition to any funds that may be appropriated by the
Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for purposes
of implementing this article, the Superintendent may seek out, apply
for, and accept nonstate funding sources to defray the cost of
developing a model curriculum pursuant to this article, including,
but not limited to, federal funds, grant programs, and private funds.
 
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would add computer science to the adopted
course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive.