BILL NUMBER: AB 2110	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ting
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano and Brown)

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

   An act to add Section 51211 to the Education Code, relating to
pupil instruction.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2110, as introduced, Ting. Pupil instruction: computer
science:::
   Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to
recommend, and the State Board of Education to adopt, curriculum
frameworks, as provided. Existing law defines "curriculum framework"
as an outline of the components of a given course of study designed
to provide state direction to school districts in the provision of
instructional programs. Existing law prohibits the state board from
adopting instructional materials until the 2015-16 school year,
except as provided.
   The bill would require the state board to incorporate computer
science curriculum content into the mathematics, science,
history-social science, and language arts curriculum frameworks, as
it deems appropriate, when those frameworks are next revised. The
bill would require computer science curriculum to focus on
foundational concepts in computer science by integrating basic skills
in technology with simple ideas about computational thinking,
communication, and collaboration, and being responsible citizens in a
changing digital world, as specified. The bill would require the
state board to consult classroom instructors to ensure the
age-appropriateness of instructional material. The bill would, upon
the incorporation of computer science curriculum content into the
curriculum frameworks, require the Superintendent of Public
Intervention to identify and post on the State Department of
Education's Internet Web site professional development resources for
teaching computer science curriculum content. The bill would require
its provisions to be implemented in a manner that does not result in
new duties or programs being imposed on local educational agencies,
as specified.
   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 51211 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   51211.  (a) The state board shall incorporate computer science
curriculum content into the mathematics, science, history-social
science, and language arts curriculum frameworks, as it deems
appropriate, when those frameworks are next revised. This curriculum
shall focus on foundational concepts in computer science by
integrating basic skills in technology with simple ideas about
computational thinking, communication, and collaboration, and being
responsible citizens in a changing digital world.
   (b) Computer science instruction shall be designed to help pupils
learn all of the following:
   (1) Computational thinking, including, but not limited to, using
technology resources to solve age-appropriate problems, understanding
and using basic steps of algorithmic problem solving with
computer-free exercises, demonstrating that a string of bits can be
used to represent alphanumeric information, recognizing that software
is created to control computer operations, and understanding the
connections between computer science and other fields.
   (2) Collaboration, including, but not limited to, gathering
information and communicating electronically, and using
age-appropriate technology resources and tools to participate in
collaborative problem-solving activities for the purpose of
developing solutions or products.
   (3) Computer practice, including, but not limited to, using
age-appropriate technology resources to gather, organize, and
manipulate data, using technology tools for individual and
collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities,
constructing a set of step-by-step instructions to be acted out, and
identifying a wide range of jobs that require knowledge or use of
computing.
   (4) Computers and communication devices, including, but not
limited to, demonstrating an appropriate level of proficiency with
input and output devices, understanding the pervasiveness of
computers in daily life, and identifying factors that distinguish
humans from machines.
   (5) Community, global, and ethical impacts, including, but not
limited to, practicing responsible digital citizenship in the use of
technology, identifying the social and ethical impacts of technology
on personal life and society, and evaluating the accuracy, relevance,
and biases of electronic information sources.
   (c) In implementing this section, the state board shall consult
classroom instructors to ensure the age-appropriateness of
instructional material.
   (d) Upon incorporating computer science curriculum content into
the mathematics, science, history-social science, and language arts
curriculum frameworks at their next revision, the Superintendent
shall identify and post on the department's Internet Web site
professional development resources for teaching computer science
curriculum content.
   (e) This section shall be implemented in a manner that does not
result in new duties or programs being imposed on local educational
agencies. In that regard, the Legislature finds and declares that
this section does not mandate costs to local educational agencies,
and that materials used to comply with this subdivision shall be part
of the normal instructional materials purchased by local educational
agencies in their normal course of business and purchasing cycles.