Amended in Assembly April 27, 2016

Amended in Assembly March 18, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2072

Introduced by Assembly Member Chang

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Brough, Chau, and Dodd)

(Coauthor: Senator Runner)

February 17, 2016

An act to add begin insert and repeal end insert Article 7 (commencing with Section 51470) begin delete to end delete begin insert of end insert Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to high school diplomas.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2072, as amended, Chang. High school diplomas: State Seal of STEM.

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 would establish a State 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. begin insert The bill would not become operative until after data from the statewide administration of specified state science assessments are available. The bill’s provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2025. end insert

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.  

Article 7 (commencing with Section 51470) is
added to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

 

Article 7.  State Seal of STEM

 

51470.  

The State Seal of STEM is established to recognize
high school graduates who have attained begin delete a high level of end delete proficiency
in fields of study within the subjects of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The State Seal of STEM
shall be awarded by the Superintendent. School district
participation in this program is voluntary.

51471.  

The purposes of the State Seal of STEM are as follows:

(a) To encourage pupils to study science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.

(b) To certify begin delete high end delete achievement within the STEM fields.

(c) To provide pupils with a tool to demonstrate STEM
competency to employers.

(d) To provide universities with a method to recognize and give
academic credit to applicants seeking admission.

(e) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.

(f) To engage pupils in STEM learning at an early age.

(g) To prepare pupils for a job market increasingly in need of
individuals with STEM skills.

51472.  

The State Seal of STEM certifies begin delete attainment of a high
level of proficiency by end delete begin insert that end insert a graduating high school pupil begin insert has
attained proficiency end insert in STEM and begin delete certifies that the graduate end delete meets
all of the following criteria:

(a) Attained a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for STEM
courses taken in high school.

begin insert

(b) Successfully completed four year-long courses, or the
equivalent, in mathematics and four year-long courses, or the
equivalent, in science while enrolled in high school. The
requirement for completion of up to one of the year-long courses
in mathematics may be satisfied by completion of a course or
courses in computer science.

end insert begin delete

(b)

end delete

begin insert (c) end insert  Has one of the following:

(1) A score of 3 or higher on an advanced placement
examination in science.

(2) A score of 600 or higher on an SAT subject test in science.

(3) A score of 4 or higher on an international baccalaureate
examination in science.

(4) A grade of B or higher in a college-level science course
taken through concurrent enrollment.

begin insert

(5) A score indicating that the pupil has met or exceeded
standards on a state-standards-aligned assessment in mathematics.

end insert begin delete

(c)

end delete

begin insert (d) end insert  Has one of the following:

(1) A score of 3 or higher on an advanced placement
examination in mathematics.

(2) A score of 600 or higher on an SAT subject test in
mathematics.

(3) A score of 4 or higher on an international baccalaureate
examination in mathematics.

(4) A grade of B or higher in a college level mathematics course
taken through concurrent enrollment.

begin delete

(d) Has one or more of the following:

end delete begin delete

(1) An extracurricular activity relating to STEM, including, but
not limited to, any of the following:

end delete begin delete

(A) Active participation in a club or organization that meets
regularly and either participates in or organizes events relating to
the STEM fields.

end delete begin delete

(B) Participation in STEM based competitions, such as robotics,
coding, or engineering.

end delete begin delete

(C) Internships with organizations or employers who work in
the STEM fields such as the health sciences, laboratories, or
engineering firms.

end delete begin delete

(D) Participation in the research of a STEM topic either done
independently or in coordination with a STEM professional such
as a university professor or biotech researcher.

end delete begin delete

(E) Participation in a STEM-related career pathway for at least
two years, which may include, but is not limited to, engineering,
health, energy, or information technology.

end delete begin delete

(2) A grade of B or higher in a computer, technology, or
engineering course taken either at the enrolled high school or
through concurrent enrollment at a California community college.

end delete begin delete

(3) A score of 3 or higher on the advanced placement computer
science examination.

end delete begin insert

(5) A score indicating that the pupil has met or exceeded
standards on a state-standards-aligned assessment in mathematics.

end insert

51473.  

The Superintendent shall do both of the following:

(a) Prepare and deliver to participating school districts an
appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript of
the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a State Seal
of STEM by the Superintendent.

(b) Provide other information it deems necessary for school
districts to successfully participate in the program.

51474.  

A school district that participates in the program under
this article shall do both of the following:

(a) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who
have earned a State Seal of STEM.

(b) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript
of each pupil who earns a State Seal of STEM.

51475.  

No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive a State
Seal of STEM.

begin insert

begin insert 51476. end insert   

This chapter shall not become operative until after data
from the statewide administration of state science assessments
aligned to the California Next Generation Science Standards are
available. Data from a field test of a state science assessment does
not satisfy this section.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 51477. end insert   

This chapter shall become inoperative on July 31, 2024,
and, as of January 1, 2025, is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2025,
deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and
is repealed.

end insert