Amended in Senate June 29, 2016

Amended in Senate June 14, 2016

Amended in Assembly May 27, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 13, 2016

Amended in Assembly March 28, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2329

Introduced by Assembly Member Bonilla

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Chiu)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Travis Allen, Calderon, Chang, Dababneh, Gonzalez, Kim, Lackey, Low, Obernolte, and Olsen)

February 18, 2016

An act to add and repeal Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 53310) of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to school curriculum.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2329, as amended, Bonilla. Computer science strategic implementation plan.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in consultation with the state board.

This bill would require the Superintendent to convene, on or before September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel composed of 23 members, as specified, to develop and submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the State Department of Education, the state board, and the Legislature on or before July 1, 2018. The bill would require the department and the state board to consider the advisory panel’s recommendations, begin delete to develop and adopt end delete begin insert the department to develop, and the state board to adopt, end insert a computer science strategic implementation begin delete plan, and end delete begin insert plan on or before January 1, 2019, and the department end insert to submit the plan begin insert adopted by the state board end insert to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019. The bill would require the Superintendent to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the advisory panel, as provided. The bill would authorize the advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for purposes of begin delete the bill’s end delete begin insert these end insert provisions, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the computer science strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the begin delete recommendations are considered by the appropriate stakeholders. end delete begin insert computer science strategic implementation plan adopted by the state board is implemented. end insert The bill’s provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2021.

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.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(1) Computer science education is not only about access to
computers. It is about innovation and development of technology.
Computer science education builds pupils’ computational and
critical thinking skills, which enables them to create, and not simply
use, the next generation of technological tools. This fundamental
knowledge is needed to prepare pupils for the 21st century
regardless of their ultimate field of study or occupation.

(2) Computer science drives job creation and innovation
throughout our state’s economy. Providing access to computer
science education is a critical step for ensuring that California
remains competitive in the global economy and strengthens its
cybersecurity. Last year, there were over 600,000 technology jobs
open across the United States, and, by 2018, 51 percent of all
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs
are projected to be in computer science-related fields. In California,
there are currently 86,436 open computing jobs, which is four
times the average demand rate in California.

(3) Computing occupations make up two-thirds of all projected
new jobs in STEM fields, making computer science one of the
most in-demand college degrees. However, California only had
3,525 computer science graduates in 2014 with only 15 percent
female graduates.

(4) There are fewer advanced placement (AP) examinations
taken in computer science than in any other STEM subject area.
Of the high school pupils in California who took the AP computer
science examination in 2015, only 26 percent were female, only
973 were Latino, and only 148 were African American. Only 242
schools in California, or 16 percent of California schools with AP
programs, offered the AP computer science course in the 2013-14
school year.

(5) President Obama’s Computer Science for All initiative builds
on the momentum at the state and local level. The President’s
upcoming budget proposes funding for the United States
Department of Education, available over three years, for states to
increase access to computer science education in elementary and
secondary education classrooms. Under the program, states would
submit comprehensive five-year “Computer Science for All” plans
in order to be eligible for federal funding, and every state with a
well-designed strategy would receive funds. In addition to
state-level grants, the budget will also dedicate funds for
competitive grants specifically for leading districts to execute
ambitious computer science education expansion efforts for all
pupils, including traditionally underrepresented pupils, with those
efforts to serve as models for national replication.

(6) However, access to computer science education for all pupils
is still a begin delete challenge end delete begin insert challenge, end insert especially for underrepresented
communities. Only one out of four K-12 schools teaches any
computer science, leaving 75 percent of pupils today without the
opportunity to develop skills that could help them thrive in the
future.

(7) Exposure to computer science at a young age has the
potential to address the diversity gap in computer science fields.
Girls who take AP computer science in high school are 10 times
more likely to major in computer science in college. African
American and Latino pupils who take this course in high school
are over seven times more likely to major in this field.

(8) A Google-Gallup survey found that begin delete 9 end delete begin insert nine end insert out of 10 parents
say they want computer science taught in their schools, and the
majority of parents and teachers believe it should be required
learning for 21st century pupils.

(9) Computer science has often been confused with broader
technology education in schools. California should adopt distinct
standards for computer science focused on both the creation and
use of software and computing technologies at all levels of K-12
education.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that all pupils in
kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, have access to computer
science education, with a strong focus on pupils underrepresented
in computer science, including girls, low-income and underserved
school districts, and rural and urban school districts.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the only predetermined
outcome be to increase access to computer science in California
schools and to account for disparate views as recommendations
are provided.

SEC. 2.  

Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 53310) is added
to Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

 

Chapter  19. Computer Science Strategic Implementation
Plan

 

53310.  

(a) On or before September 1, 2017, the Superintendent
shall convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory
panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic
implementation plan. The advisory panel shall hold public
meetings, post the location and time of the meetings, and post
agendas online. Members of the advisory panel shall possess
expertise in computer science.

(b) The advisory panel shall consist of, but not necessarily be
limited to, the following members:

(1) The Superintendent or his or her designee, who shall serve
as begin delete the end delete cochair of the advisory panel.

(2) A representative of the Governor, who shall serve as begin delete the end delete
cochair of the advisory panel.

(3) A representative designated by the Senate Committee on
Rules.

(4) A representative designated by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(5) (A) Six K-12 teacher representatives, designated by the
Superintendent.

(B) It is the intent of the Legislature that these representatives
include two elementary begin insert school end insert teachers, two middle school
teachers, and two high school teachers who are all currently
teaching.

(C) It is further the intent of the Legislature that these
representatives include one teacher from a large urban school
district and one from a rural school district.

(6) A representative representing the Commission on Teacher
Credentialing.

(7) A credentialed teacher representing the Computer Science
Teachers Association.

(8) A representative of the private sector technology industry,
designated by the Superintendent.

(9) A faculty member from the University of California.

(10) A faculty member from the California State University.

(11) A faculty member from the California Community
Colleges.

(12) A faculty member from a private postsecondary educational
institution, designated by the Superintendent.

(13) A credentialed teacher from the Instructional Quality
Commission.

(14) A representative from an equity-focused organization
knowledgeable of computer science/STEM education programs,
designated by the Superintendent.

(15) A representative from a parent organization, designated by
the Superintendent.

(16) A representative representing school administrators and
superintendents, designated by the Superintendent.

(17) A pupil enrolled in a public school, designated by the
Superintendent.

(18) A representative from a county office of education,
designated by the Superintendent.

(c) Administrators from the University of California, the
California State University, and the California Community Colleges
may serve as begin delete advisors end delete begin insert advisers end insert to the advisory panel to provide
input on the computer science strategic implementation plan.

53311.  

(a) On or before July 1, 2018, the computer science
strategic implementation advisory panel shall submit
recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation
plan to the department, the state board, and the Legislature that
includes, at a minimum, recommendations on all of the following:

(1) Broadening the pool of teachers to teach computer science.
These recommendations may provide, among other things, for the
following:

(A) Providing training and professional development for
education in computer science pursuant to Section 60605.4.

(B) Creating a teacher certification pathway in computer science.

(C) Expanding scholarship eligibility and loan forgiveness
programs for computer science teachers in low-income and
underserved school districts and rural and urban school districts.

(2) Defining computer science education principles that meet
the needs of pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(3) Ensuring that all pupils have access to quality computer
science courses. These recommendations may provide, among
other things, for the following:

(A) Scaling up computer science education coursework so that
all high schools teach at least one computer science course.

(B) Providing access to computer science in both college and
career pathways.

(C) Ensuring school districts have adequate broadband
connectivity and infrastructure and access to hardware and
software. This may include, but is not limited to, the development
of grant programs that prioritize high-need school districts.

(D) Removing local policy and regulatory barriers that local
educational agencies face when implementing computer science
education.

(E) Increasing the participation of pupils traditionally
underrepresented in computer science education.

(b) The recommendations shall be submitted to the Legislature
in conformance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(c) Upon completion of the recommendations for a computer
science strategic implementation plan, the computer science
strategic implementation advisory panel established pursuant to
Section 53310 shall begin delete cease. end delete begin insert cease to exist. end insert

53312.  

(a) The Superintendent shall appoint a statewide
computer science liaison within the department to serve the
computer science strategic implementation advisory panel,
including, but not limited to, in the following begin delete the end delete actions:

(1) Coordinating the efforts of the advisory panel by writing up
the recommendations of the advisory panel members and
disseminating them to all stakeholders.

(2) Soliciting input and public comments.

(3) Preparing the necessary legislative reports to share the
advisory panel’s recommendations.

(4) Ensuring that the advisory panel’s recommendations begin delete are
considered in order to achieve the intentions of the computer
science strategic implementation plan. end delete begin insert adopted by the state board
are implemented. end insert

(b) The duration of the liaison’s role shall only be begin delete through the
implementation of the computer science content standards and
curriculum frameworks in order to ensure that the recommendations
from the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel
are considered for implementation. end delete begin insert for a limited period of time
subsequent to the adoption by the state board of academic content
standards in computer science and the curriculum framework for
computer science in order to provide technical assistance and
support to local educational agencies in commencing
implementation of the computer science academic content
standards and curriculum framework. end insert

53313.  

The department and state board shall consider the
recommendations submitted by the computer science strategic
implementation advisory panel pursuant to Section begin delete 53311, shall
develop and adopt end delete begin insert 53311. The department shall develop, and the
state board shall adopt, end insert a computer science strategic
implementation begin delete plan, and end delete begin insert plan on or before January 1, 2019. The
department end insert shall submit the plan begin insert adopted by the state board end insert to the
Legislature in conformance with Section 9795 of the Government
Code on or before January 1, 2019.

53314.  

If state or federal funds are not available or sufficient
for purposes of this chapter, the computer science strategic
implementation advisory panel may evaluate the process and ability
to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support
from public or private sources for purposes of convening the
advisory panel, preparing the computer science strategic
implementation plan, and ensuring that the begin delete recommendations are
considered by the appropriate stakeholders. end delete begin insert computer science
strategic implementation plan adopted by the state board is
implemented. end insert

53315.  

This chapter shall become inoperative on July 31, 2020,
and, as of January 1, 2021, is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2021,
deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and
is repealed.