AB 2110, as amended, Ting. Pupil instruction: computer science.
Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to recommend, and the State Board of Education to adopt, curriculum frameworks, as provided. Existing law defines “curriculum framework” as an outline of the components of a given course of study designed to provide state direction to school districts in the provision of instructional programs. Existing law prohibits the state board from adopting instructional materials until the 2015-16 school year, except as provided.
This bill would require the commission to consider incorporating computer science curriculum content into the mathematics, science, history-social science, and language arts curriculum frameworks, as it deems appropriate, when those frameworks are next revised. The bill would require computer science curriculum to focus on foundational concepts in computer science by integrating basic skills in technology with simple ideas about computational thinking, communication, and collaboration, and being responsible citizens in a changing digital world, as specified. The bill would require the commission to consult with classroom teachersbegin insert and school administratorsend insert to ensure the age-appropriateness of the computer science curriculum. If computer science curriculum content is incorporated into the curriculum frameworks at their next revision, the bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to identify and post on the State Department of Education’s Internet Web site professional development resources for teaching computer science curriculum content. The bill would require its provisions to be implemented in a manner that does not result in new duties or programs being imposed on local educational agencies, as specified.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 51211 is added to the Education Code,
2to read:
(a) The Instructional Quality Commission shall
4consider incorporating computer science curriculum content into
5the mathematics, science, history-social science, and language arts
6curriculum frameworks, as it deems appropriate, when those
7frameworks are next revised. This curriculum shall focus on
8foundational concepts in computer science by integrating basic
9skills in technology with simple ideas about computational
10thinking, communication, and collaboration, and being responsible
11citizens in a changing digital world.
12(b) For purposes of this section, computer science curriculum
13shall be designed to promote an understanding of all of the
14following:
15(1) Computational thinking, including, but not limited to, using
16technology resources to solve age-appropriate problems,
17understanding and using basic steps of algorithmic problem solving
18with computer-free exercises, demonstrating that a string of bits
19can be used to represent alphanumeric information, recognizing
20that software is created to control computer operations, and
21understanding the connections between computer science and other
22fields.
P3 1(2) Collaboration, including, but not limited to, gathering
2information and communicating electronically, and using
3age-appropriate technology resources and tools to participate in
4collaborative problem-solving activities for the purpose of
5developing solutions or products.
6(3) Computer
practice, including, but not limited to, using
7age-appropriate technology resources to gather, organize, and
8manipulate data, using technology tools for individual and
9collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities,
10constructing a set of step-by-step instructions to be acted out, and
11identifying a wide range of jobs that require knowledge or use of
12computing.
13(4) Computers and communication devices, including, but not
14limited to, demonstrating an appropriate level of proficiency with
15input and output devices, understanding the pervasiveness of
16computers in daily life, and identifying factors that distinguish
17humans from machines.
18(5) Community, global, and ethical impacts, including, but not
19limited to, practicing responsible digital citizenship in the use of
20technology,
identifying the social and ethical impacts of technology
21on personal life and society, and evaluating the accuracy, relevance,
22and biases of electronic information sources.
23(c) In implementing this section, the Instructional Quality
24Commission shall consult with classroom teachersbegin insert and school
25administratorsend insert to ensure the age-appropriateness of the computer
26science curriculum.
27(d) If computer science curriculum content is incorporated into
28the mathematics, science, history-social science, and language arts
29curriculum frameworks at their next revision, the Superintendent
30shall identify and post on the department’s Internet Web site
31professional development resources for teaching
computer science
32curriculum content.
33(e) This section shall be implemented in a manner that does not
34result in new duties or programs being imposed on local
35educational agencies. In that regard, the Legislature finds and
36declares that this section does not mandate costs to local
37educational agencies, and that materials used to comply with this
38subdivision shall be part of the normal instructional materials
P4 1purchased by local educational agencies in their normal course of
2business and purchasing cycles.
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