BILL NUMBER: AB 1539	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 2, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hagman
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Brown,   Nestande,   and Waldron   )

    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Knight
  ) 

                        JANUARY 22, 2014

   An act to add Section 60605.4 to the Education Code, relating to
content standards.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1539, as amended, Hagman. Content standards: computer science.
   Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt
statewide academically rigorous content standards, pursuant to
recommendations of the Commission for the Establishment of Academic
Content and Performance Standards, in core curriculum areas.
   This bill would require the  state  board to adopt  ,
on or before July 31, 2015,  computer science content
standards, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of
computer science experts  ,   and in
consideration of   national computer science content
standards,  that provide  a framework  
guidance  for teaching computer science education in grades 7 to
12, inclusive. The bill would require the Superintendent, in
consultation with the state board, to convene that group of experts
and ensure that the group includes individuals from  specified
 groups  specified in this bill  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 60605.4 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
   60605.4.  (a) On or before July  1,   31,
 2015, the  State Board of Education  
state board  shall adopt computer science  content 
standards, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of
computer science experts  ,   and in
consideration of national computer science content standards, 
that provide  a framework   guidance  for
teaching computer science education in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. The
content standards shall include, but not necessarily be limited to,
standards for teaching coding. For purposes of this section, "coding"
is the process of converting a program design into an accurate and
detailed representation of that program in a suitable language.
   (b)  (1)    The Superintendent, in consultation
with the state board, shall convene the group of experts required in
subdivision (a), and shall ensure that the members of the group
include, but are not necessarily limited to,  individuals who
are, science teachers in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, schoolsite
principals, school district or county office of education
administrators, university professors, and representatives of private
sector business or industry.   all of the following:
 
   (A) Teachers who teach computer science, including mathematics and
science teachers, in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. 
   (B) Schoolsite principals.  
   (C) School district or county office of education administrators.
 
   (D) University professors.  
   (E) Representatives of private sector business or industry. 

   (2) The Superintendent, in consultation with the state board,
shall ensure that one-half of the members of the group are teachers
as described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1). 
   (c) The content standards may be used by school districts to
develop computer science programs and course assessments but are not
mandatory.