BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2110
PageA
Date of Hearing: April 9, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Joan Buchanan, Chair
AB 2110 (Ting) - As Amended: March 25, 2014
SUBJECT : Pupil instruction: computer science
SUMMARY : Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to
incorporate computer science curriculum content into the
mathematics, science, history-social science, and language arts
curriculum frameworks, as it deems appropriate. Specifically,
this bill :
1) Requires the SBE to incorporate computer science
curriculum content into the mathematics, science,
history-social science, and language arts curriculum
frameworks, as it deems appropriate, when each of those
frameworks is next revised.
2) Requires the computer science curriculum incorporated
into these frameworks to be consistent with recognized
computer science standards and to focus on foundational
concepts in computer science by integrating basic skills in
technology with simple ideas about computational thinking,
communication, collaboration, and being a responsible
citizen in a changing digital world.
3) Requires computer science instruction be designed to
assist pupils in learning all of the following:
a) Computational thinking;
b) Collaborative thinking and problem solving;
c) Computer practice through technological devices;
d) Computers and communication devices in daily life;
and
e) Community, global, and ethical impacts of
technology.
1) Requires the SBE to consult with classroom teachers to
ensure the age-appropriateness of the instructional
materials.
AB 2110
PageB
2) Requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to post professional development resources for
teaching computer science on the California Department of
Education's (CDE) Web site upon incorporation of the
computer science curriculum into the frameworks, as
specified.
3) Requires this measure to be implemented in a manner
that does not result in new duties or programs being
imposed on local educational agencies (LEAs).
4) Makes a finding and declaration that this measure does
not mandate costs to LEAs and that materials used to comply
with this measure shall be part of the normal instructional
materials purchased by LEAs in their normal course of
business and purchasing cycles.
EXISTING LAW
1) Makes Legislative findings recognizing that increasing
the integration of computers and computer technology into
California's economy has profound implications for
California's society and the state's educational policy.
2) Makes Legislative findings that recognize the importance
of early exposure to basic computer education and computer
resources for all students to ensure academic and career
success.
3) Makes a Legislative finding that it is imperative
California adopt a policy to ensure equitable access to
technological education programs.
4) Declares a policy for the state of California that all
students in grades 1 - 12, inclusive, shall have equitable
access to educational programs designed to strengthen
technological skills, including, but not limited to,
computer education programs and that the funds appropriated
for these educational programs have the goal of ensuring
equitable access to those programs for all students.
5) Defines technology as "technology-based materials,
AB 2110
PageC
equipment, systems, and networks."
6) Requires LEAs to adopt a course of study for grades 1 -
6 that includes English, mathematics, social science,
science, visual and performing arts, health, and physical
education.
7) Requires LEAs to adopt a course of study for grades 7 -
12 that includes English, social science, foreign language,
physical education, mathematics, visual and performing
arts, applied arts, career technical education, and
automobile education.
8) Requires the SBE to adopt model content standards in
visual and performing arts, foreign languages, English
language arts, English language development, mathematics,
science, and history/social science.
9) 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.
10) Prohibits the SBE from considering or adopting revised
framework and evaluation criteria for instructional
materials until July 1, 2015, but has created statutory
exceptions to this prohibition for English language arts,
mathematics, science, and history-social science.
11) Defines "instructional materials" as all materials that
are designed for use by pupils and their teachers as a
learning resource and help pupils to acquire facts, skills,
or opinions or to develop cognitive processes.
Instructional materials may be printed or non-printed, and
may include textbooks, technology-based materials, other
educational materials, and tests.
FISCAL EFFECT : unknown
COMMENTS :
Curriculum, Standards, and Frameworks
California curriculum is based on content standards that are
developed by the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) (also
referenced in statute as the "commission") and approved by the
SBE. The curriculum frameworks, similarly developed by the IQC
AB 2110
PageD
and approved by the SBE, are guidelines for implementing these
standards. The framework for mathematics was adopted in 2013
and the English Language Arts/English Language Development
framework is well under way and will be presented to the SBE for
adoption sometime in 2014. Future revisions of other
frameworks are tentatively scheduled as follows: history-social
science will be presented to the SBE for adoption in 2015 and
science will be presented to the SBE for adoption in 2016. This
bill requires the next adoptions of each of these frameworks to
incorporate computer science curriculum content, as specified.
The committee may wish to consider whether the requirement that
the SBE include computer science curriculum in these frameworks
is the best approach to infusing our schools with rigorous
computer science curriculum. The committee may also wish to
consider whether such curriculum decisions are better left to
the expertise of the IQC, rather than dictated through
Legislative action. Toward this end, staff recommends an
amendment to encourage the IQC to consider incorporating the
specified content into the curriculum frameworks. First, this
amendment more appropriately places the burden on the IQC, which
has subject matter expertise, rather than on the SBE. Second,
this amendment is consistent with previous actions of this
Committee by allowing the IQC to use its expertise and balance
the competing demands for specified content and limited
instructional time by encouraging action. Similarly, staff
recommends an amendment that would require the IQC, rather than
the SBE, to consult with classroom teachers in implementing this
section.
This committee may wish to consider the absence of a common
definition of computer science that can be thoughtfully woven
through a variety of subject areas and across all grade levels
as required by this bill. According to the Computer Science
Teachers Association (CSTA), computer science is "the study of
computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles
their hardware and software designs, their applications, and
their impact on society."<1> The committee may wish to consider
whether this, or another definition should be included in this
bill to better define the intent of the Legislature for computer
science curriculum.
Though this bill requires the SBE to include curriculum that is
---------------------------
<1> CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards, pages 6-7.
AB 2110
PageE
consistent with recognized computer science standards, it is
unclear to which standards the author is referring. According
to the author, this language is intended to allow the SBE to
look at a variety of standards, such as standards developed by
the Computer Science Teachers Association, advocacy and
educational programs such as code.org, or those adopted by other
states. In 2013, the national Computer Science Teachers
Association created K-12 standards with the intention that state
and local governing bodies, such as California's SBE, would use
these standards to create their own state and local academic
standards. California has not adopted these or any other
standards, nor formally recognized these or any other standards
in any way. California's CTE model standards include a
Programming and Systems Development Pathway, but these standards
are intended only to inform CTE curriculum and are not intended
to drive K-12 instruction across the curriculum. Therefore,
staff recommends an amendment to delete this requirement.
The absence of computer science standards in California raises
another concern the committee may wish to consider. Frameworks
are guidelines for implementing a set of common academic
standards, so in the absence of such standards, it is unclear
how the SBE will be able to provide guidance to assist classroom
teachers and other educators develop curriculum and instruction
to meet or exceed content standards that do not exist. However,
should the committee determine that the language provided in
this bill is sufficient to allow the SBE to meaningfully
implement this section, staff recommends an amendment that
replaces the requirement that computer science instruction be
designed to help pupils learn specified skills and content and
instead requires the curriculum considered by the IQC to promote
these goals rather than dictate the particular instruction
delivered by teachers in the classroom. This amendment would
shift the focus from the practices within the classroom to the
guidance for curriculum resources provided in the frameworks
documents.
This bill requires the SBE to consult with classroom teachers to
determine the age-appropriateness of instructional materials.
Curriculum frameworks include criteria by which the SBE and LEAs
evaluate instructional materials for adoption. These criteria
are based in the subject matter's content standards and are
reflective of the priorities and concepts set forth in the
frameworks. However, the adoption process is distinct from the
frameworks process. Therefore staff recommends an amendment
AB 2110
PageF
that replaces a reference to "instructional materials"
recognized by the SBE within the frameworks with the word
"curriculum". "Instructional materials" is term within the
Education Code that carries a specific meaning and obligations
that exceed the scope of this bill. The committee may also wish
to consider whether school administrators should be added to the
groups with whom the SBE must consult.
Teacher certification
The committee may wish to consider whether this bill can be
successfully implemented given the absence of teacher
professional development opportunities that would allow, for
example, a high school history teacher to provide meaningful and
rigorous instruction on available technological resources,
collaborative problem solving, technological proficiency, and
the impact of technology on society as suggested. Currently,
California has three Single Subject Teaching Credentials
(Mathematics, Business, and Industrial and Technology Education)
and a supplementary authorization (Computer Concepts and
Applications) that authorize a teacher to provide instruction in
computer science. However, these varied approaches and emphases
may lead to a disjointed and widely disparate approach to
computer science. However, this bill seems to suggest that any
authorization is sufficient to provide computer science content.
As such, the committee may also wish to consider whether this
varied approach will lead to a disjointed and widely disparate
approach to computer science instruction.
Related Legislation
ACR 108 (Wagner) (2014), designates the week of December 8,
2014, as Computer Science Education Week. This measure is
pending in the Assembly Education Committee.
AB 1530 (Chau) (2014), encourages the SPI to develop or, as
needed, revise a model curriculum on computer science, and to
submit the model curriculum to the SBE for adoption. This
measure is pending in the Assembly Education Committee.
AB 1539 (Hagman) (2014), requires the SBE to adopt computer
science academic content standards. This measure is pending in
the Assembly Education Committee.
AB 1764 (Olsen and Buchanan) (2014), allows a school district to
award mathematics credit for completion of a California State
University and Universities of California approved "category c"
AB 2110
PageG
computer science course, if the district requires more than two
years of mathematics courses for graduation. This measure is
pending in the Assembly Education Committee.
Previous Legislation
AB 887 (Atkins), Chapter 719, Statutes of 2011, established the
policy for the state of California that all students in grades 1
- 12 shall have equitable access to educational programs
designed to strengthen technological skills, including, but not
limited to, computer education programs and that funds
appropriated for these educational programs have the goal of
ensuring equitable access to those programs for all students.
This measure was not heard by the Assembly Education Committee.
ACR 88 (Torlakson), Resolution. Chapter 84, Statutes of 2010,
established, until January 1, 2014, the California Task Force on
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education for
the purpose of promoting the improvement of mathematics,
science, engineering, and technology education across the state.
The task force would consist of Members of the Legislature and
experts appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate
Committee on Rules. This measure passed out of the Assembly
Education Committee by a vote of 9 - 0.
SB 675 (Torlakson) (2007) require the State Department of
Education to conduct a needs assessment survey, including
specified components, of all school districts and county offices
of education to determine the availability and accessibility of
courses and coursework in the areas of career technology
education and computer literacy. This measure died in Assembly
Education without being heard, at the request of the author.
SB 1736 (Ackerman) (2005) establish the One-to-One Laptop
Computer Pilot Program to be administered by the SPI. This
measure died in Assembly Education without being heard, at the
request of the author.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Association of California School Administrators (Support if
Amended)
California Federation of Teachers
AB 2110
PageH
California State Parent Teacher Association
Children Now
Computer Science Teachers Association
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Jill Rice / ED. / (916) 319-2087