BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2110
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Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2110 (Ting) - As Amended: April 21, 2014
Policy Committee: EducationVote:7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to
consider incorporating computer science curriculum content into
the mathematics, science, history-social science, and language
arts curriculum frameworks, when those frameworks are revised.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the computer science curriculum incorporated into
these frameworks to focus on foundational concepts in computer
science, as specified, and requires instruction be designed to
assist pupils in computational thinking, collaborative
thinking and problem solving, computer practice through
technological devices, computers and communication devices in
daily life, and community, global, and ethical impacts of
technology.
2)Requires the IQC to consult with classroom teachers to ensure
the age-appropriateness of the curriculum.
3)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.
4) 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).
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5)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.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)One-time GF costs to CDE of $60,000 to $80,000 to incorporate
computer science curriculum content into the mathematics,
science, history-social science, and language arts curriculum
frameworks. Currently there is no designated computer science
curriculum. CDE would need to develop the curriculum, most
likely with the assistance of a curriculum expert outside of
the department. There may also be costs associated with
convening meetings to consult with classroom teachers, to the
extent this cannot occur as part of the regular IQC workload.
2)Potential GF/98 cost pressure, in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars, to the extent state and local education agencies
(LEAs) develop and incorporate computer science content and
resources into professional development activities.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. According to the author, most students are first
exposed to computer science through Advanced Placement (AP)
courses in high school. However, this exposure is limited in
reach and diversity, with only a small fraction of students
enrolled in these classes. This bill requires the IQC to
consider integration of computer science education into the
curriculum for students in grades 1 - 6. The author seeks to
increase exposure and expand opportunities for all by
providing an early introduction to computer science.
2)Background. California curriculum is based on content
standards developed by the IQC and approved by the SBE. The
curriculum frameworks, similarly developed by the IQC 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 will be presented to the SBE for adoption sometime
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in 2014. Future revisions of other frameworks are
tentatively scheduled as follows: history-social science is
expected to be presented to the SBE for adoption in 2015 and
science is expected to be presented to the SBE in 2016.
Mathematics and English language arts/English language
development frameworks were recently adopted, therefore, it is
likely these frameworks would not be revised until 2020 or
later.
Currently there are no computer science standards in
California. Frameworks are guidelines for implementing a set
of common academic standards. In the absence of standards, it
is unclear how the SBE will provide guidance to assist
classroom teachers and other educators develop curriculum and
instruction to meet or exceed content standards that do not
exist
3)Support if amended. The bill requires the SBE to consult with
teachers to determine age appropriateness of the curriculum.
The Association of California School Administrators supports
the bill with an amendment to require the SBE to consult with
administrators as well.
4)Related Legislation.
a) 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.
b) AB 1530 (Chau), pending in this committee, 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.
c) AB 1539 (Hagman), pending in this committee, encourages
the IQC to adopt computer science academic content
standards.
Analysis Prepared by : Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 2110
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