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, andbegin delete language artsend deletebegin insert English language arts/English
language developmentend insert 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 teachers and school administrators 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, andbegin delete language artsend delete
6begin insert English language arts/English language developmentend insert curriculum
7frameworks, as it deems appropriate, when those frameworks are
8next revised. This curriculum shall focus on foundational concepts
9in computer science by integrating basic skills in technology with
10simple ideas about computational thinking, communication, and
11collaboration, and being responsible citizens in a changing digital
12
world.
13(b) For purposes of this section, computer science curriculum
14shall be designed to promote an understanding of all of the
15following:
16(1) Computational thinking, including, but not limited to, using
17technology resources to solve age-appropriate problems,
18understanding and using basic steps of algorithmic problem solving
19with computer-free exercises, demonstrating that a string of bits
20can be used to represent alphanumeric information, recognizing
21that software is created to control computer operations, and
P3 1understanding the connections between computer science and other
2fields.
3(2) Collaboration, including, but not limited to, gathering
4information and communicating electronically, and using
5age-appropriate
technology resources and tools to participate in
6collaborative problem-solving activities for the purpose of
7developing solutions or products.
8(3) Computer practice, including, but not limited to, using
9age-appropriate technology resources to gather, organize, and
10manipulate data, using technology tools for individual and
11collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities,
12constructing a set of step-by-step instructions to be acted out, and
13identifying a wide range of jobs that require knowledge or use of
14computing.
15(4) Computers and communication devices, including, but not
16limited to, demonstrating an appropriate level of proficiency with
17input and output devices, understanding the pervasiveness of
18computers in daily life, and identifying factors that distinguish
19humans
from machines.
20(5) Community, global, and ethical impacts, including, but not
21limited to, practicing responsible digital citizenship in the use of
22technology, identifying the social and ethical impacts of technology
23on personal life and society, and evaluating the accuracy, relevance,
24and biases of electronic information sources.
25(c) In implementing this section, the Instructional Quality
26Commission shall consult with classroom teachers and school
27administrators to ensure the age-appropriateness of the computer
28science curriculum.
29(d) If computer science curriculum content is incorporated into
30the mathematics, science, history-social science, andbegin delete language artsend delete
31begin insert
English language arts/English language developmentend insert curriculum
32frameworks at their next revision, the Superintendent shall identify
33and post on the department’s Internet Web site professional
34development resources for teaching computer science curriculum
35content.
36(e) This section shall be implemented in a manner that does not
37result in new duties or programs being imposed on local
38educational agencies. In that regard, the Legislature finds and
39declares that this section does not mandate costs to local
40educational agencies, and that materials used to comply with this
P4 1subdivision shall be part of the normal instructional materials
2purchased by local educational agencies in their normal course of
3business and purchasing cycles.
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