California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1539

Introduced by Assembly Member Hagman

January 22, 2014

An act to add Section 60605.4 to the Education Code, relating to content standards.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1539, as introduced, Hagman. Content standards: computer science.

Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt statewide academically rigorous content standards, pursuant to recommendations of the Commission for the Establishment of Academic Content and Performance Standards, in core curriculum areas.

This bill would require the board to adopt computer science content standards, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts, that provide a framework for teaching computer science education in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. The bill would require the Superintendent, in consultation with the state board, to convene that group of experts and ensure that the group includes individuals from groups specified in this bill.

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.  

Section 60605.4 is added to the Education Code,
to read:

60605.4.  

(a) On or before July 1, 2015, the State Board of
Education shall adopt computer science standards, pursuant to
recommendations developed by a group of computer science
experts, that provide a framework for teaching computer science
education in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. The content standards shall
include, but not necessarily be limited to, standards for teaching
coding. For purposes of this section, “coding” is the process of
converting a program design into an accurate and detailed
representation of that program in a suitable language.

(b) The Superintendent, in consultation with the state board,
shall convene the group of experts required in subdivision (a), and
shall ensure that the members of the group include, but are not
necessarily limited to, individuals who are, science teachers in
grades 7 to 12, inclusive, schoolsite principals, school district or
county office of education administrators, university professors,
and representatives of private sector business or industry.

(c) The content standards may be used by school districts to
develop computer science programs and course assessments but
are not mandatory.