BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 1530 (Chau) - Model Curricula: Computer Science
Amended: August 4, 2014 Policy Vote: Education 6-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: August 4, 2014
Consultant: Jacqueline Wong-Hernandez
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 1530 requires the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) to consider identifying, developing or
revising model curriculum on computer science for kindergarten -
6th grade. This bill codifies legislative intent to encourage
the establishment of programs of instruction in computer
science, and regarding the concepts that should be included in
computer science instruction.
Fiscal Impact: This bill requires the SPI to "consider"
identifying existing model curricula for grades K-6 in computer
science, and to recommend developing new or revising existing
model curricula to the state board of education (SBE) for
adoption. If the SPI decides to do so, the costs and cost
pressures are:
Model curriculum: $400,000 - $500,000 (General Fund) in
costs to the California Department of Education (CDE) over
an 18-month period to research K-6 computer science
curricula, as defined in the bill; to identify and review
model curricula; to recommend the revision of existing, or
development of new model curricula; and, to present model
computer science curricula to the SBE for adoption.
Local costs: Substantial cost pressure for all elementary
schools to establish computer science programs, and to
provide the technological resources needed to implement
those programs. Significant cost pressure for the CDE to
provide technical assistance to schools in establishing and
maintaining these programs.
Background: Model curriculum is designed to give classroom
instructors ready access to comprehensive and accurate
information that can be used to build engaging lessons for any
classroom. The CDE has published a standards-based model
curricula on various topics, including the life and work of
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Cesar Chavez and human rights. Model curricula is published on
the CDE's website and includes resources to help teachers
prepare lessons.
Proposed Law: This bill codifies legislative intent to encourage
the establishment of programs of instruction in computer
science, with instruction beginning as early as feasible for
each school district. It also codifies legislative intent
specifying the concepts that should be taught in computer
science instruction. This bill requires the SPI to consider
identifying existing model curricula for grades K-6 in computer
science, and to recommend developing new or revising existing
model curricula to the state board for adoption, by July 1,
2017. Upon adoption by the SBE, the SPI is required to post the
model curricula on the CDE's website. The provisions of this
bill sunset on July 1, 2018.
Related Legislation: AB 1539 (Hagman) requires the Instructional
Quality Commission (IQC) to develop computer science content
standards by July 31, 2016. AB 1539 will also be heard in this
Committee on August 4, 2014.
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 will also be heard in this Committee on
August 4, 2014.
Staff Comments: Identifying, revising, and potentially creating
model curricula in computer science for grades K-6, in the
absence of any computer science content standards for elementary
grades will be work-intensive for the CDE. Since the bill
requires only that the SPI "consider" the bill's proposed
workload, it is possible that the SPI will determine that it is
unworkable, or simply identify and post third-party curricula on
the CDE website. However, if the SPI does adhere to the bill's
structure, the CDE would be responsible for extensive work in
researching computer science curricula, determining what
standards it should meet, reviewing existing curricula against
those standards, recommending the revision of existing, or
development of new model curricula; and, ultimately revising or
creating that new curricula.
This bill specified that the goal of this K-6 computer science
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curricula, should be to introduce the fundamental concepts of
computer science, including instruction on computational
thinking, algorithmic processes and principles, hardware and
software design, computer applications, and the impact of
computers on society. In order to meet that goal, CDE workload
would require personnel specifically assigned to this activity,
as well as contracts with content experts. It is unclear that
the CDE's existing staff could create curriculum on hardware or
software design, for example. This process would also require
additional meetings of the IQC to discuss and act upon proposed
curricula and hear public testimony. Costs will ultimately
depend on the degree to which existing curricula can be used
with minimal revisions. If the CDE has to revise or develop
curricula in a subject area for which there are no K-6 standards
or frameworks, costs will likely be $400,000 - $500,000.
There will also be significant ongoing cost pressure for the CDE
to provide technical assistance to schools in establishing and
maintaining computer science programs. It is unclear whether
elementary schools are equipped to teach computer science, as
defined in this bill. If the CDE produces and hosts model
curricula on its website, it is likely that schools will seek
assistance from the CDE in putting that curricula into practice.