Amended in Senate July 8, 2015

Amended in Assembly May 6, 2015

Amended in Assembly April 21, 2015

Amended in Assembly March 26, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1258

Introduced by Assembly Member Chau

February 27, 2015

An act to add and repeal Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section 52975) of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to elementary and secondary education.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1258, as amended, Chau. Elementary and secondary education: Computer Science Education Grant Pilot Program.

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and authorizes school districts and other local educational agencies to provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law establishes a course of study for pupils in these grades.

This bill would establish the Computer Science Education Grant Pilot Program under the administration of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Under the program, eligible begin delete school districts end delete begin insert local educational agencies, as defined, end insert could apply to receive begin delete one-year grants under either or both of the 2 competitive grant pilot programs. One pilot program, the Computer Science Start-Up Courses Grant Pilot Program, would provide grants end delete begin insert grants, not to exceed 2 years, end insert to establish and maintain computer science courses in underserved areas and among pupils from groups historically underrepresented in the field of computer science, and begin delete the other grant pilot program, the Computer Science Educator Training Grant Pilot Program, would end delete begin insert to end insert provide professional development for begin delete educators end delete begin insert teachers end insert to teach computer science, either as a stand-alone course or as integrated into other courses.

The bill would authorize any begin delete school district end delete begin insert local educational agency end insert in the state to apply for participation in the pilot begin delete programs. end delete begin insert program. end insert The bill would specify minimum criteria to be applied by the Superintendent in evaluating applicant begin delete school districts end delete begin insert local educational agencies end insert for possible participation in the pilot begin delete programs, end delete begin insert program, end insert and authorize the Superintendent to begin delete convene an advisory group of end delete begin insert consult with end insert computer science experts to discuss and refine these criteria, as specified.

The bill would establish the Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account in the State Treasury. The bill would authorize the State Treasury to receive, and deposit into the account, any gifts, grants, or donations received for purposes of the bill from begin delete the federal government or end delete private persons or entities. The bill would require begin delete school districts end delete begin insert local educational agencies end insert receiving grants under the bill to provide local matching resources, which may include in-kind donations, constituting an amount equaling the amount that would be allocated to the begin delete school district end delete begin insert local educational agency end insert from the Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature that no moneys from the state General Fund be used to fund the grant pilot begin delete programs end delete begin insert program end insert established by the bill.

The bill would provide that the funds deposited in the account would be available, upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act or in another statute, to the Superintendent for purposes of the bill, provided that the Superintendent certifies, in writing, to the Director of Finance that there are sufficient funds, as defined, in the account to implement the bill. The bill would limit expenditures from the account to cover administrative costs begin insert to the State Department of Education end insert to no more than 5% of the allocations made from the account in any fiscal year. The bill would authorize the Superintendent to refund to the donor all or a portion of any gift, grant, or donation made to the account by that donor if the funds received from that donor have not been encumbered because there are surplus funds in the account or because this provision has not become operative.

The bill would require the Superintendent to submit an annual report, containing specified data about the grant program, to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 10, 2018, and on or before January 10 in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

The provisions of the bill would become inoperative on July 1, 2021, and would be repealed as of January 1, 2022.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert begin insert

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

end insert begin insert

(a) Computing is truly a 21st century skill; computer science
exposure, when rooted in culturally relevant instruction and
rigorous standards, has the potential to foster critical inquiry and
develop problem-solving abilities that transcend the study of
computer science and are highly relevant for all fields of study.

end insert begin insert

(1) Broad and coordinated efforts are needed to reverse
disparities in computer science access, particularly for
underrepresented pupils across the State of California.

end insert begin insert

(2) Reducing disparities in access to computer science
coursework requires state-, district-, school-, and community-level
funding and policy commitments.

end insert begin insert

(3) Computer science course availability is also low within the
largest California school districts, most of which serve high
populations of pupils of color and low-income pupils. According
to a report issued in May 2015:

end insert begin insert

(A) Ten out of the largest 20 school districts in California do
not offer Advanced Placement computer science.

end insert begin insert

(B) Five out of the largest 20 school districts in California do
not offer any computer science courses.

end insert begin insert

(C) Of the 560,874 high school pupils in the largest 20
California school districts, less than 2 percent (8,136 pupils) are
enrolled in any computer science course.

end insert begin insert

(b) The local control funding formula was enacted in July 2013
(Chapter 47 of the Statutes of 2013).

end insert begin insert

(1) Previously, more than 40 state categorical programs
provided restricted state dollars that school districts could use for
only certain activities.

end insert begin insert

(2) The local control funding formula removed spending
restrictions and established grade span-specific base rates.

end insert begin insert

(3) School districts also receive supplemental and concentration
funding for unduplicated counts of pupils who are classified as
being English learners or low-income, based on eligibility for a
free or reduced-price meal, or foster youths.

end insert begin insert

(c) For the reasons indicated above, this act keeps with the
spirit of local control by developing state-level and district-level
funding strategies to increase access to both introductory and
advanced placement computer science coursework across all
California local educational agencies. Further, it expands and
strengthens the state’s computing teacher workforce by providing
funds for professional development on this subject.

end insert begin insert

(d) This act tries to remedy these inequities by allowing, but not
requiring, local educational agencies to use their local control
funding formula allocations so they can receive matching grant
funds to establish, maintain, and expand computer science courses,
and to provide professional development for these purposes under
the Computer Science Education Grant Pilot Program. These
matching grant funds will be supplied by private contributions
and donations, specifically from technology industries.

end insert

begin delete SECTION 1. end delete
begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section 52975) is
added to Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:

 

Chapter  13.5. Computer Science Education Grant Pilot
Program

 

Article 1.  General Provisions

 

52975.  

(a)  begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert The Superintendent shall establish a
public-private computer science education grant pilot begin delete program end delete
begin insert program, the Computer Science Education Grant Pilot Program, end insert
through which a participating begin delete school district end delete begin insert local educational
agency end insert may receive funding to establish and begin delete maintain end delete begin insert expand end insert
computer science begin delete courses end delete begin insert courses, to maintain computer science
courses previously established or expanded under this program, end insert
and begin insert to end insert provide professional development for begin delete educators end delete begin insert teachers end insert
to teach computer science, either as a stand-alone course or as
integrated into other courses. Any begin delete school district end delete begin insert local educational
agency end insert may apply for participation in this grant pilot program.
begin delete The grant pilot program shall consist of two parts, the Computer
Science Start-Up Courses Grant Pilot Program and the Computer
Science Educator Training Grant Pilot Program, and school districts
may apply for participation in either or both of those two pilot
programs. end delete

begin insert

(2) For purposes of this chapter, “local educational agency”
shall have the same meaning as in Section 421, as that section
read on July 1, 2015.

end insert

(b) The Superintendent shall provide notice of this pilot program
to all begin delete school districts end delete begin insert local educational agencies end insert throughout the
state, and encourage them to apply for participation in this grant
pilot program.

(c) The Superintendent shall award begin delete one-year grants end delete begin insert grants, not
to exceed two years in duration, end insert to begin delete school districts end delete begin insert local
educational agencies end insert under this chapter to applicants he or she
deems to be eligible. A begin delete school district end delete begin insert local educational agency end insert
that receives a grant under this chapter may apply for a grant in a
subsequent year, but grants under this chapter shall not be
automatically renewed for an additional begin delete year. end delete begin insert year or years. end insert The
Superintendent shall not award any grant under this chapter unless
the Superintendent determines that there are sufficient moneys in
the Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account
established under Article 3 (commencing with Section 52978) to
fund that grant. In order to be deemed eligible for the grant pilot
program, a begin delete school district, end delete begin insert local educational agency, end insert at a minimum,
shall meet begin delete all end delete begin insert at least two end insert of the following criteria:

(1) Demonstrate engaged and committed leadership in support
of introducing pupils who would not otherwise have these
opportunities to begin insert study end insert computer science.

(2) Demonstrate a plan to engage these pupils with the subject
matter of computer science.

(3) Demonstrate that begin delete school district end delete begin insert certificated end insert staff begin insert of the local
educational agency end insert are appropriately trained to carry out the plan.

(4) Demonstrate the capacity to maximize the use of grant
resources by addressing the availability of appropriate physical
space and technology, projected enrollment, and other specific
requirements set forth by the Superintendent.

(5) Demonstrate a history of successful partnerships within the
community and partner support for computer science. Partnership
support may include, but is not necessarily limited to, supplying
materials or technology, instruction support, internships,
mentorships, and apprenticeships.

(6) Demonstrate the capacity to continue in the school years
succeeding the initial grant begin delete year. end delete begin insert year or years. end insert

(d) The Superintendent may begin delete convene an advisory group of end delete
begin insert consult with end insert computer science experts to discuss and refine the
eligibility criteria listed in subdivision (c). For purposes of this
subdivision, the Superintendent may use the same group of
computer science experts selected pursuant to Section 60605.4.

52975.5.  

This chapter shall become inoperative on July 1, 2021,
and, as of January 1, 2022, is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2022,
deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and
is repealed.

 

Article 2.  Computer Science begin delete Start-Up Courses Grant and
Computer Science Educator Training end delete begin insert Education end insert Grant Pilot
begin delete Programs end delete begin insert Program Provisions end insert

 

52976.  

(a) The Computer Science begin delete Start-up Courses end delete begin insert Education end insert
Grant Pilot Program is a competitive grant program that is intended
to support begin delete innovative end delete begin insert both of the following: end insert

begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Innovative end insert ways to introduce pupils in underserved areas
and pupils from groups historically underrepresented in the field
of computer science who would not otherwise have those
opportunities to begin insert study end insert computer science and inspire them to enter
computer science careers.

begin insert

(2) Professional development for teachers to acquire the
knowledge and skills necessary to teach computer science, either
as a stand-alone course or as integrated into other courses.

end insert

(b) In awarding grants under this section, the Superintendent
shall give priority to applicant begin delete school districts end delete begin insert local educational
agencies end insert with higher percentages of unduplicated pupils, as defined
in Section 42238.02, and, as much as feasible, shall award grants
to begin delete school districts end delete begin insert local educational agencies end insert that collectively
represent the geographic and socioeconomic diversity of this state.
An applicant for a grant under this section shall submit a specific
begin delete plan end delete begin insert plan, developed in consultation with teachers employed by
the applicant local educational agency, end insert for begin delete an introductory
computer end delete begin insert either, or both, of the following: end insert

begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert A computer end insert science course designed to be of maximum value
in meeting the particular needs of the pupils of that begin delete school district, end delete
begin insert local educational agency, end insert including pupils from groups historically
underrepresented in the field of computer science.

begin insert

(2) Professional development for teachers employed by that
local educational agency to acquire the knowledge and skills
necessary to teach computer science to that local educational
agency’s pupils, either as a stand-alone course or as integrated
into other courses.

end insert

(c) Grant funds awarded under this section may be used for
begin delete one-time end delete purposes associated with the costs of establishing or
expanding computer science courses, begin insert or maintaining computer
science courses that were previously established or expanded
under this program, end insert including begin delete teacher recruitment, professional
development, end delete instructional materials, begin delete laboratory supplies and
equipment, and facilities remodeling. end delete begin insert hardware, software, and
firmware, and to fund professional development related to
computer science education for participating teachers in
accordance with the submitted plan. end insert

(d) The grant application for this program shall be on a form
developed by the Superintendent and shall include, at a minimum,
an itemized budget for begin delete the one-time end delete use of the grant funds, an
identification of local matching resources constituting an amount
equaling the amount that would be allocated to the begin delete school district end delete
begin insert local educational agency end insert from the Computer Science Education
Grant Matching Account established by Section 52978, and an
agreement by the grant recipient to provide the Superintendent the
data needed to complete the report required by Section 52979.

begin delete

52977.  

(a) The Computer Science Educator Training Grant
Pilot Program is intended to support professional development for
educators to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to teach
computer science, either as a stand-alone course or as integrated
into other courses. The Superintendent shall award training grants,
on a competitive basis, to school districts for the support of
educators employed by applicant school districts.

(b) In awarding grants under this section, the Superintendent
shall give priority to applicant school districts with higher
percentages of unduplicated pupils, as defined in Section 42238.02,
and, as much as feasible, shall award grants to school districts that
collectively represent the geographic and socioeconomic diversity
of this state. An applicant for a grant under this section shall submit
a specific plan, developed in consultation with teachers employed
by the applicant school district, for professional development for
educators employed by that school district to acquire the knowledge
and skills necessary to teach computer science to that school
district’s pupils, either as a stand-alone course or as integrated into
other courses. Grant funds awarded under this section shall be
allocated to fund professional development related to computer
science education for the participating educators.

(c) The grant application for this program shall be on a form
developed by the Superintendent and shall include, at a minimum,
an itemized budget for the one-time use of the grant funds, an
identification of local matching resources constituting an amount
equaling the amount that would be allocated to the school district
from the Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account
established by Section 52978, and an agreement by the grant
recipient to provide the Superintendent the data needed to complete
the report required by Section 52979.

end delete

 

Article 3.  Funding and Reporting

 

52978.  

(a) The Computer Science Education Grant Matching
Account is established in the State Treasury. This account shall
be used solely and exclusively for the pilot begin delete programs end delete begin insert program end insert
created in this chapter. The purpose of the account is to provide
begin delete matching end delete funds for the Computer Science begin delete Start-Up Courses Grant
and the Computer Science Educator Training end delete begin insert Education end insert Grant
begin delete pilot programs end delete begin insert Pilot Program end insert established under Article 2
(commencing with Section 52976). Grants under this chapter, and
related administrative costs, shall be funded by a combination of
funds from the account and matching funds provided by a
participating begin delete school district. end delete begin insert local educational agency. end insert A begin delete school
district end delete begin insert local educational agency end insert that receives a grant under this
chapter shall provide local matching resources, which may include
in-kind donations, constituting an amount equaling the amount
that would be allocated to the begin delete school district end delete begin insert local educational
agency end insert from the Computer Science Education Grant Matching
Account. It is the intent of the Legislature that no moneys from
the state General Fund be used to fund the grant pilot begin delete programs end delete
begin insert program end insert established by this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Treasury is
authorized to receive, and deposit into the account, any gifts, grants,
or donations received for purposes of this chapter from begin delete the federal
government or end delete private persons or entities. Expenditures from the
account, with respect to a particular grant, shall not exceed the
amount of corresponding matching funds.

52978.5.  

(a) The funds deposited in the Computer Science
Education Grant Matching Account shall be available, upon
appropriation in the annual Budget Act or in another statute, to the
Superintendent for purposes of funding the grants established under
this chapter, begin insert and end insert covering related begin delete costs, and returning
unencumbered end delete begin insert administrative costs to the department.
Unencumbered end insert funds begin insert shall be returned end insert to begin insert their initial end insert donors
pursuant to subdivision (b). The administrative costs of the
implementation of this chapter shall be kept to a minimum, and in
no event shall expenditures from the account to cover
administrative costs begin insert to the department end insert exceed 5 percent of the
allocations made from the account in any fiscal year.

(b) The Superintendent is authorized to refund to the donor all
or a portion of any gift, grant, or donation made to the account by
that donor if the funds received from the donor have not been
encumbered because the Superintendent has determined that there
are surplus funds in the account or because, pursuant to subdivision
(c), this section has not become operative.

(c) This section shall not become operative unless and until the
Superintendent certifies, in writing, to the Director of Finance that
there are sufficient funds in the account to implement this chapter.
For purposes of this section, “sufficient funds” is defined as an
amount sufficient to support at least two grants begin insert and the associated
administrative costs to the department end insert in begin delete one of end delete the begin delete programs end delete
begin insert program end insert established by this chapter.

52979.  

The Superintendent shall submit an annual report to
the Governor and the Legislature on the programs established
under this chapter. This report shall be submitted on or before
January 10, 2018, and on or before January 10 in 2019, 2020, and
2021, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
The report shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of
the following data:

(a) The number of applicants begin insert and grants awarded end insert annually.

(b) The number of begin insert pupil end insert participants begin delete annually. end delete begin insert annually, the
number of unduplicated pupils, as defined in Section 42238.02,
and pupils from groups historically underrepresented in the field
of computer science, who have taken a computer science course,
or have taken a computer science course with a teacher trained
as a result of this program, and to the extent available, any
increase in the number of pupils who enroll or intend to enroll in
computer science programs at postsecondary educational
institutions. end insert

(c) The increase in the number of courses offered and teachers
trained in computer science as a result of the grants made under
this chapter.

begin delete

(d) (1) For the Computer Science Start-up Courses Grant Pilot
Program, the increase in the number of pupils, including
unduplicated pupils as defined pursuant to Section 42238.02 and
pupils from groups historically underrepresented in the field of
computer science, who have taken a computer science course, and
to the extent available, any increase in the number of pupils who
enroll or intend to enroll in computer science programs at
postsecondary educational institutions.

(2) For the Computer Science Educator Training Grant Pilot
Program, the increase in the number of pupils, including
unduplicated pupils as defined pursuant to Section 42238.02 and
pupils from groups historically underrepresented in the field of
computer science, who have taken a course with an educator trained
as a result of this program.

(e)

end delete

begin insert (d) end insert  The amount of grant funds awarded each fiscal year,
classified by begin delete school district. end delete begin insert local educational agency. end insert