BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 1530
AUTHOR: Chau
AMENDED: June 17, 2014
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 25, 2014
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : Model curriculum: computer science.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to consider identifying, developing or revising model
curriculum on computer science.
BACKGROUND
Current law requires:
1) The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to
develop or revise a model curriculum on the life and
work of Cesar Chavez and submit the model curriculum
to the State Board of Education for adoption. The SPI
is required to distribute the model curriculum to each
school upon adoption. (Education Code � 37220.6)
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/pn/nr/documents/chavez020602.p
df#search=model%20curriculum&view=FitH&pagemode=none
2) The Model Curriculum for Human Rights and Genocide,
adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE), to be
made available to schools serving grades 7-12 when
funding is available, and requires the Model
Curriculum to be available on the website of the
California Department of Education (CDE). (EC �
51226.3)
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/hs/im/documents/modelcurrichrg
enoc.pdf#search=model%20curriculum&view=FitH&pagemode=n
one
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3) The Office of Emergency Services, in collaboration
with the CDE, to develop a model gang violence
suppression and substance abuse prevention curriculum
for grades 2, 4, and 6. (EC � 51266)
4) The SPI to make available existing curriculum relative
to model curriculum in lifelong healthy aging and
financial preparedness. (EC � 51280)
5) Current law authorizes the SBE to adopt a model
curriculum guide on the contributions of Native
Americans. (EC � 37220.7)
ANALYSIS
This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to consider identifying, developing or revising model
curriculum on computer science. Specifically, this bill:
1) Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to consider identifying, developing, or, as
needed, revising new or existing model curricula on
computer science.
2) Requires the SPI to submit, by July 1, 2017, the model
curricula to the state board for adoption.
3) Requires, upon adoption by the SBE, the SPI to post
the model curricula on the California Department of
Education's website.
4) Authorizes the SPI to seek out, apply for, and accept
non-state funding sources including, but not limited
to, federal funds, grant programs, and private funds.
5) States Legislative intent to encourage the
establishment of programs of instruction in computer
science, with instruction beginning as early as
feasible for each school district.
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6) States legislative findings and declarations relative
to computer science education.
7) Sunsets the provisions of this bill on July 1, 2018.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Model curriculum . Model curriculum provides teachers
with comprehensive information on a topic that may be
used to create lessons or courses. Model curriculum
provides instructional guidance, but is not required.
School districts currently have the authority to
provide instruction based on model curriculum or other
resources, including instruction relative to computer
science.
This bill acknowledges the existence of K-12 curriculum
that is available at no cost, and therefore requires
the SPI to consider identifying or revising existing
curriculum that is suitable for California's students.
2) Timing . Curriculum is based upon the standards and
frameworks in the subject area(s). Standards for
computer science do not exist, although current
legislation requires the consideration of their
development. Another measure requires the
Instructional Quality Commission to consider
incorporating computer science curriculum into the
mathematics, science, history-social science, and
English language arts frameworks. Computer science is
not well-represented in the existing content standards
or framework subject areas. Should the standards and
frameworks be updated prior to the development of
model curriculum? Staff recommends an amendment to
require the SPI to consider identifying existing model
curriculum and providing recommendations for the
development or revision of new or existing model
curricula on computer science.
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3) What grade levels ? This bill states findings and
declarations that reference grades K-6 as well as
K-12. Staff recommends an amendment to clarify that
the model curriculum may be for any of grades K-12, so
as to not limit the curriculum only to what is
available for the entire span of grades.
4) Fiscal impact . According to the Assembly
Appropriations Committee, this bill could impose
General Fund administrative costs to the California
Department of Education of approximately $300,000
should it choose to identify, develop or revise new or
existing model curricula on computer science. Cost
estimates include advisory committee meetings;
research, development, drafting, public comment,
editing and publication of the curriculum; and
Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) meetings to
discuss and publicly act upon proposed curriculum.
The SBE would incur additional costs to review the
curriculum for adoption.
5) Related legislation relative to computer science . AB
1539 (Hagman) requires the IQC to develop computer
science content standards by July 31, 2016. AB 1539
is scheduled to be heard in this Committee on June 25.
AB 2110 (Ting) requires the IQC to consider incorporating
computer science curriculum content into the
mathematics, science, history-social science, and
English language arts frameworks. AB 2110 is
scheduled to be heard in this Committee on June 25.
AB 1764 (Olsen) authorizes school districts that require
more than two years of mathematics for high school
graduation to award credit for a "category C" approved
computer science course. AB 1764 is pending on the
Senate Floor.
6) Related legislation relative to model curriculum . AB
1915 (Nazarian) requires the Instructional Quality
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Commission to consider including the Armenian,
Cambodian, Darfur and Rwandan genocides in the
history-social science framework. AB 1915 is pending
in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SUPPORT
Alliance for California Computing Education for Students
and Schools
California Chamber of Commerce
Code.org
Computing in the Core
Microsoft
TechNet
OPPOSITION
None on file.