AB 2072,
as amended, Chang. High school diplomas: Statebegin delete Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Seal.end deletebegin insert Seal of STEM.end insert
Existing law establishes the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma for the purpose of recognizing pupils who have mastered the high school curriculum. Existing law also establishes the State Seal of Biliteracy to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.
This bill wouldbegin delete express the Legislature’s intent to enact legislation that wouldend delete establish a State begin deleteScience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Seal.end deletebegin insert Seal of STEM to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high
level of proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The bill would establish criteria for the receipt of the State Seal of STEM, would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to prepare and deliver to participating school districts an appropriate insignia to be affixed to pupil diplomas or transcripts, and would require participating school districts to maintain appropriate records and affix the appropriate insignia to diplomas or transcripts of recipient pupils.end insert
Vote: majority.
Appropriation: no.
Fiscal committee: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert.
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
begin insertArticle 7 (commencing with Section 51470) is
2added to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the end insertbegin insert3Education Codeend insertbegin insert, to read:end insert
4
The State Seal of STEM is established to recognize high
8school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in
9fields of study within the subjects of science, technology,
10engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The State Seal of STEM
11shall be awarded by the Superintendent. School district
12participation in this program is voluntary.
The purposes of the State Seal of STEM are as follows:
14(a) To encourage pupils to study science, technology,
15engineering, and mathematics.
16(b) To certify high achievement within the STEM fields.
17(c) To provide pupils with a tool to demonstrate STEM
18competency to employers.
19(d) To provide universities with a method to recognize and give
20academic credit to applicants seeking admission.
21(e) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.
22(f) To engage pupils in STEM learning at an early age.
23(g) To prepare pupils for a job market increasingly in need of
24individuals with STEM skills.
The State Seal of STEM certifies attainment of a high
26level of proficiency by a graduating high school pupil in STEM
27and certifies that the graduate meets all of the following criteria:
28(a) Attained a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for STEM
29courses taken in high school.
30(b) Has one of the following:
31(1) A score of 3 or higher on an advanced placement
32examination in science.
33(2) A score of 600 or higher on an SAT subject test in science.
P3 1(3) A score of 4 or higher on an international baccalaureate
2
examination in science.
3(4) A grade of B or higher in a college-level science course
4taken through concurrent enrollment.
5(c) Has one of the following:
6(1) A score of 3 or higher on an advanced placement
7examination in mathematics.
8(2) A score of 600 or higher on an SAT subject test in
9mathematics.
10(3) A score of 4 or higher on an international baccalaureate
11examination in mathematics.
12(4) A grade of B or higher in a college level mathematics course
13taken through concurrent enrollment.
14(d) Has one or more of the following:
15(1) An extracurricular activity relating to STEM, including, but
16not limited to, any of the following:
17(A) Active participation in a club or organization that meets
18regularly and either participates in or organizes events relating
19to the STEM fields.
20(B) Participation in STEM based competitions, such as robotics,
21coding, or engineering.
22(C) Internships with organizations or employers who work in
23the STEM fields such as the health sciences, laboratories, or
24engineering firms.
25(D) Participation in the research of a STEM topic either done
26independently or in coordination with a STEM professional such
27as a university professor or biotech researcher.
28(E) Participation in a STEM-related career pathway for at least
29two years, which may include, but is not limited to, engineering,
30health, energy, or information technology.
31(2) A grade of B or higher in a computer, technology, or
32engineering course taken either at the enrolled high school or
33through concurrent enrollment at a California community college.
34(3) A score of 3 or higher on the advanced placement computer
35science examination.
The Superintendent shall do both of the following:
37(a) Prepare and deliver to participating school districts an
38appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript of
39the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a State Seal
40of STEM by the Superintendent.
P4 1(b) Provide other information it deems necessary for school
2districts to successfully participate in the program.
A school district that participates in the program under
4this article shall do both of the following:
5(a) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils
6who have earned a State Seal of STEM.
7(b) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript
8of each pupil who earns a State Seal of STEM.
No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive a State
10Seal of STEM.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
12legislation that would establish a State Science, Technology,
13Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Seal.
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