Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in consultation with the state board.

This bill would require the Superintendent to convene, on or before September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel composed of 23 members, as specified, to develop and submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the State Department of Education, the state board, and the Legislature on or before July 1, 2018. The bill would require the department and the state board to consider the advisory panels recommendations; the department to develop, and the state board to adopt, a computer science strategic implementation plan on or before January 1, 2019; and the department to submit the plan adopted by the state board to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019. The bill would require the Superintendent to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the advisory panel, as provided. The bill would authorize the advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for purposes of these provisions, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the computer science strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the computer science strategic implementation plan adopted by the state board is implemented. The bills provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2021.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in consultation with the state board.

This bill would require the Superintendent to convene, on or before September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel composed of 23 members, as specified, to develop and submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the State Department of Education, the state board, and the Legislature on or before July 1, 2018. The bill would require the department and the state board to consider the advisory panels recommendations; the department to develop, and the state board to adopt, a computer science strategic implementation plan on or before January 1, 2019; and the department to submit the plan adopted by the state board to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019. The bill would require the Superintendent to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the advisory panel, as provided. The bill would authorize the advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for purposes of these provisions, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the computer science strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the computer science strategic implementation plan adopted by the state board is implemented. The bills provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2021.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in consultation with the state board.

This bill would require the Superintendent to convene, on or before September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel composed of 23 members, as specified, to develop and submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the State Department of Education, the state board, and the Legislature on or before July 1, 2018. The bill would require the department and the state board to consider the advisory panels recommendations, to develop and adopt the department to develop, and the state board to adopt, a computer science strategic implementation plan, and plan on or before January 1, 2019, and the department to submit the plan adopted by the state board to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019. The bill would require the Superintendent to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the advisory panel, as provided. The bill would authorize the advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for purposes of the bills these provisions, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the computer science strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the recommendations are considered by the appropriate stakeholders. computer science strategic implementation plan adopted by the state board is implemented. The bills provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2021.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in consultation with the state board.

This bill would require the Superintendent to convene, on or before September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel composed of 20 23 members, as specified, to develop and submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the State Department of Education, the state board, and the Legislature on or before July 1, 2018. The bill would require the department and the state board to consider the advisory panels recommendations, to develop and adopt a computer science strategic implementation plan, and to submit the plan to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019. The bill would require the Superintendent to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the advisory panel, as provided. The bill would authorize the advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for purposes of the bills provisions, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the computer science strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the recommendations are considered by the appropriate stakeholders. The bills provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2021.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in consultation with the state board.

This bill would require the State Department of Education Superintendent to establish, convene, on or before July September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory board, panel composed of 20 members, as specified, to report necessary legislative changes related to computer science education to the department and the state board on or before January 1, 2018, and to develop and submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the department and State Department of Education, the state board board, and the Legislature on or before March July 1, 2018. The bill would require the department and the state board to consider the advisory boards recommendations and the recommendations of the commission specified above, panels recommendations, to develop and adopt a computer science strategic implementation plan, and to submit the plan to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019. The bill would require the Superintendent to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the advisory panel, as provided. The bill would authorize the advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for purposes of the bills provisions, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the computer science strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the recommendations are considered by the appropriate stakeholders. The bills provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2021.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in consultation with the state board.

This bill would provide for the establishment of require the State Department of Education to establish, on or before July 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory board, composed of 20 members, as specified, to report necessary legislative changes related to computer science education to the State Department of Education department and the state board on or before January 1, 2018, and to submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the department and the state board on or before March 1, 2018. The bill would require the department and the state board to consider the advisory boards recommendations and the recommendations of the commission specified above, to develop and adopt a computer science strategic implementation plan, and to submit the plan to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019. The bills provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2021.

The California Council on Science and Technology is a nonprofit corporation organized pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Existing law provides that the council was established at the request of the Legislature for the specific purpose of offering expert advice to state government on public policy issues significantly related to science and technology. Existing law authorizes school districts that require more than 2 years of mathematics courses for graduation to award mathematics credit for completion of a California State University and University of California approved category C computer science course. Existing law requires the California State University and requests the University of California to develop guidelines for high school computer science courses to be approved for purposes of recognition for admission to the California State University and the University of California, respectively, and would encourage the University of California to ensure that computer science courses that satisfy the mathematics subject area requirements for admission build upon fundamental mathematics content provided in courses that align with the academic content standards developed by the Academic Content Standards Commission.

This bill would request that the council undertake and complete a study, and submit the study to the Legislature, by January 1, 2018, analyzing the status and impact of recently enacted laws, as specified. The bill would state that the goal of the study is to help the Legislature, through a data-driven review, understand the needs to advance computer science in Californias high school curriculum and to move forward with policy that increases computer science education opportunities in high school, leading to an increase in the number of computer science degree holders produced by public postsecondary educational institutions in California.

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 2329

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 9-0, 6/22/16

AYES: Liu, Block, Hancock, Huff, Leyva, Mendoza, Monning, Pan, Vidak

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/1/16 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: TechNet

DIGEST: This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education (SBE), by July 31, 2019, computer science content standards based on recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. (Education Code § 60605.4)
   
2. Requires the SPI, in consultation with the SBE, to consider convening the group of experts to develop recommendations for computer science content standards. (EC § 60605.4)
   
3. Authorizes a school district to award a student up to one mathematics course credit for successfully completing an “a-g” approved computer science course, if the district requires more than two courses in mathematics for graduation from high school. (EC § 51225.3 and § 51225.35)
   
4. Requires the California State University (CSU), and requests the University of California (UC), to develop guidelines for high school computer science courses to be approved for admission, and encourages the UC to ensure that computer science courses that satisfy the math subject area requirements for admission build upon fundamental math content in courses that align with the academic content standards. (EC § 66205.5)

This bill requires the SPI to convene, by September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the advisory panel to consist of but not be limited to the following members:
   
   1. The SPI or his or her designee, who is to serve as the co-chair.
      
   2. A representative of the Governor, who is to serve as the co-chair.
      
   3. A representative designated by the Senate Rules Committee.
      
   4. A representative designated by the Speaker of the Assembly.
      
   5. Six K-12 teacher representatives, designated by the SPI. This bill states intent that these representatives include two elementary school teachers, two middle school teachers, and two high school teachers who are all currently teaching. This bill further states intent that these representatives include one teacher from a large urban school district and one from a rural school district.
      
   6. A representative of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
      
   7. A credentialed teacher of the Computer Science Teachers Association.
      
   8. A representative of the private sector technology industry, designated by the SPI.
      
   9. A faculty member from the UC.
      
   10. A faculty member from the CSU.
       
   11. A faculty member from the California Community Colleges (CCCs).
       
   12. A faculty from a private postsecondary educational institution, designated by the SPI.
       
   13. A credentialed teacher from the IQC.
       
   14. A representative from an equity-focused organization knowledgeable of computer science/ science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs, designated by the SPI.
       
   15. A representative from a parent organization, designated by the SPI.
       
   16. A representative of school administrators and superintendents, designated by the SPI.
       
   17. A student enrolled in a public school, designated by the SPI.
       
   18. A representative from a county office of education, designated by the SPI.
       
2. Authorizes administrators from the UC, CSU and CCCs to serve as advisers to the advisory panel to provide input on the computer science strategic implementation plan.
   
3. Requires the advisory panel to hold public meetings, post the location and time of the meetings, and post agendas online.
   
4. Requires the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the California Department of Education (CDE), the SBE, and the Legislature that includes, at a minimum, recommendations on all of the following:
   
   1. Broadening the pool of teachers to teach computer science. This bill authorizes these recommendations to provide for, among other things, the following:
      
      1. Providing training and professional development for education in computer science pursuant to academic content standards that have yet to be developed.
         
      2. Creating a teacher certification pathway in computer science.
         
      3. Expanding scholarship eligibility and loan forgiveness programs for computer science teachers in low-income and underserved school districts and rural and urban school districts.
         
   2. Defining computer science education principles that meet the needs of K-12 students.
      
   3. Ensuring that all students have access to quality computer science courses. This bill authorizes these recommendations to provide for, among other things, the following:
      
      1. Scaling up computer science education coursework so that all high schools teach at least one computer science course.
         
      2. Providing access to computer science in both college and career pathways.
         
      3. Ensuring school districts have adequate broadband connectivity and infrastructure and access to hardware and software. This bill authorizes this to include but not be limited to the development of grant programs that prioritize high-need school districts.
         
      4. Removing local policy and regulatory barriers that local educational agencies face when implementing computer science education.
         
      5. Increasing the participation of students traditionally underrepresented in computer science education.
         
5. Requires the CDE and SBE to consider the recommendations submitted by the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel. This bill requires the CDE to develop, and the SBE to adopt, a computer science strategic implementation plan by January 1, 2019. This bill requires the CDE to submit the plan adopted by the SBE to the Legislature by January 1, 2019.
   
6. Requires the SPI to appoint a statewide computer science liaison within the CDE to serve the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel, including but not limited to the following actions:
   
   1. Coordinating the efforts of the advisory panel by writing up the recommendations of the advisory panel members and disseminating them to all stakeholders.
      
   2. Soliciting input and public comments.
      
   3. Preparing the necessary legislative reports to share the advisory panel’s recommendations.
      
   4. Ensuring that the advisory panel’s recommendations adopted by the SBE are implemented.
      
7. Provides that the duration of the liaison’s role is only for a limited period of time subsequent to the adoption of academic content standards in computer science and the curriculum framework for computer science, to provide technical assistance and support to local educational agencies in beginning implementation of the computer science standards and curriculum framework.
   
8. Provides that the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel is to cease to exist upon completion of the recommendations for a strategic plan.
   
9. Authorizes the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for the purposes of this bill, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the computer science strategic implementation plan adopted by the SBE is implemented.
   
10. States legislative findings and declarations relative to the value of computer science education.
    
11. Sunsets the provisions of this bill on July 31, 2020.

Comments

Advisory panel. Existing law requires the SPI to consider convening a panel of experts to develop recommendations on computer science standards. However, existing law is permissive and contingent upon funding; this advisory panel has not been convened. This bill requires the SPI to convene, by September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

• One-time cost of $237,000 to support the 23 member panel and to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the panel. These costs include travel, materials, and recording contracts for the panel public meetings as well as costs to support the liaison. Ongoing costs to the CDE are unknown, but funding of about $150,000 is likely needed to continue to support the liaison for a period of time after the adoption of the computer science content standards and the associated curriculum framework. (General Fund)
  
• Unknown cost pressure, likely in the millions to implement suggested recommendations included in this bill. Costs will depend on the actual recommendations of the panel. (Proposition 98)

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/31/16)

TechNet (source)

Accenture

Amazon

Bloom Energy

CA Technologies

CALinnovates

Cisco Systems Limited

Code.org

eBay

Entertainment Software Association

General Motors

HP Inc.

Intel

Intuit

Lyft

Microsoft

Million Women Mentors, CA

Oracle

PayPal

Qualcomm

SolarCity

Valley Industry and Commerce Association

Yahoo!

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/31/16)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/1/16

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Arambula, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Cooper

Prepared by:

8/31/16 12:00:10

**** END ****

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 2329

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 9-0, 6/22/16

AYES: Liu, Block, Hancock, Huff, Leyva, Mendoza, Monning, Pan, Vidak

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Not available

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/1/16 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: TechNet

DIGEST: This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education (SBE), by July 31, 2019, computer science content standards based on recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. (Education Code § 60605.4)
   
2. Requires the SPI, in consultation with the SBE, to consider convening the group of experts to develop recommendations for computer science content standards. (EC § 60605.4)
   
3. Authorizes a school district to award a student up to one mathematics course credit for successfully completing an “a-g” approved computer science course, if the district requires more than two courses in mathematics for graduation from high school. (EC § 51225.3 and § 51225.35)
   
4. Requires the California State University (CSU), and requests the University of California (UC), to develop guidelines for high school computer science courses to be approved for admission, and encourages the UC to ensure that computer science courses that satisfy the math subject area requirements for admission build upon fundamental math content in courses that align with the academic content standards. (EC § 66205.5)

This bill requires the SPI to convene, by September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the advisory panel to consist of but not be limited to the following members:
   
   1. The SPI or his or her designee, who is to serve as the co-chair.
      
   2. A representative of the Governor, who is to serve as the co-chair.
      
   3. A representative designated by the Senate Rules Committee.
      
   4. A representative designated by the Speaker of the Assembly.
      
   5. Six K-12 teacher representatives, designated by the SPI. This bill states intent that these representatives include two elementary school teachers, two middle school teachers, and two high school teachers who are all currently teaching. This bill further states intent that these representatives include one teacher from a large urban school district and one from a rural school district.
      
   6. A representative of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
      
   7. A credentialed teacher of the Computer Science Teachers Association.
      
   8. A representative of the private sector technology industry, designated by the SPI.
      
   9. A faculty member from the UC.
      
   10. A faculty member from the CSU.
       
   11. A faculty member from the California Community Colleges (CCCs).
       
   12. A faculty from a private postsecondary educational institution, designated by the SPI.
       
   13. A credentialed teacher from the IQC.
       
   14. A representative from an equity-focused organization knowledgeable of computer science/ science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs, designated by the SPI.
       
   15. A representative from a parent organization, designated by the SPI.
       
   16. A representative of school administrators and superintendents, designated by the SPI.
       
   17. A student enrolled in a public school, designated by the SPI.
       
   18. A representative from a county office of education, designated by the SPI.
       
2. Authorizes administrators from the UC, CSU and CCCs to serve as advisers to the advisory panel to provide input on the computer science strategic implementation plan.
   
3. Requires the advisory panel to hold public meetings, post the location and time of the meetings, and post agendas online.
   
4. Requires the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the California Department of Education (CDE), the SBE, and the Legislature that includes, at a minimum, recommendations on all of the following:
   
   1. Broadening the pool of teachers to teach computer science. This bill authorizes these recommendations to provide for, among other things, the following:
      
      1. Providing training and professional development for education in computer science pursuant to academic content standards that have yet to be developed.
         
      2. Creating a teacher certification pathway in computer science.
         
      3. Expanding scholarship eligibility and loan forgiveness programs for computer science teachers in low-income and underserved school districts and rural and urban school districts.
         
   2. Defining computer science education principles that meet the needs of K-12 students.
      
   3. Ensuring that all students have access to quality computer science courses. This bill authorizes these recommendations to provide for, among other things, the following:
      
      1. Scaling up computer science education coursework so that all high schools teach at least one computer science course.
         
      2. Providing access to computer science in both college and career pathways.
         
      3. Ensuring school districts have adequate broadband connectivity and infrastructure and access to hardware and software. This bill authorizes this to include but not be limited to the development of grant programs that prioritize high-need school districts.
         
      4. Removing local policy and regulatory barriers that local educational agencies face when implementing computer science education.
         
      5. Increasing the participation of students traditionally underrepresented in computer science education.
         
5. Requires the CDE and SBE to consider the recommendations submitted by the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel. This bill requires the CDE to develop, and the SBE to adopt, a computer science strategic implementation plan by January 1, 2019. This bill requires the CDE to submit the plan adopted by the SBE to the Legislature by January 1, 2019.
   
6. Requires the SPI to appoint a statewide computer science liaison within the CDE to serve the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel, including but not limited to the following actions:
   
   1. Coordinating the efforts of the advisory panel by writing up the recommendations of the advisory panel members and disseminating them to all stakeholders.
      
   2. Soliciting input and public comments.
      
   3. Preparing the necessary legislative reports to share the advisory panel’s recommendations.
      
   4. Ensuring that the advisory panel’s recommendations adopted by the SBE are implemented.
      
7. Provides that the duration of the liaison’s role is only for a limited period of time subsequent to the adoption of academic content standards in computer science and the curriculum framework for computer science, to provide technical assistance and support to local educational agencies in beginning implementation of the computer science standards and curriculum framework.
   
8. Provides that the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel is to cease to exist upon completion of the recommendations for a strategic plan.
   
9. Authorizes the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for the purposes of this bill, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the computer science strategic implementation plan adopted by the SBE is implemented.
   
10. States legislative findings and declarations relative to the value of computer science education.
    
11. Sunsets the provisions of this bill on July 31, 2020.

Comments

Advisory panel. Existing law requires the SPI to consider convening a panel of experts to develop recommendations on computer science standards. However, existing law is permissive and contingent upon funding; this advisory panel has not been convened. This bill requires the SPI to convene, by September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

• One-time cost of $237,000 to support the 23 member panel and to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the panel. These costs include travel, materials, and recording contracts for the panel public meetings as well as costs to support the liaison. Ongoing costs to the CDE are unknown, but funding of about $150,000 is likely needed to continue to support the liaison for a period of time after the adoption of the computer science content standards and the associated curriculum framework. (General Fund)
  
• Unknown cost pressure, likely in the millions to implement suggested recommendations included in this bill. Costs will depend on the actual recommendations of the panel. (Proposition 98)

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/31/16)

TechNet (source)

Accenture

Alliance for California Computing Education for Students and Schools

Amazon

Bloom Energy

CA Technologies

California Chamber of Commerce

California Manufacturers & Technology Association

California School Boards Association

CALinnovates

Cisco Systems Limited

Code.org

eBay

Entertainment Software Association

General Motors

HP Inc.

Intel

Intuit

Lyft

Microsoft

Million Women Mentors, CA

Oracle

PayPal

Qualcomm

SolarCity

Valley Industry and Commerce Association

Yahoo!

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/31/16)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/1/16

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Arambula, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Cooper

Prepared by:

8/31/16 12:12:49

**** END ****

(Without Reference to File)

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 2329

Author:(Bonilla)

As Amended Ver:June 29, 2016

Majority vote

Original Committee Reference: ED.

SUMMARY: Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel (panel) to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan (plan).

The Senate amendments:

1. Increase the number of teachers to be appointed to the panel, and require that they be currently teaching.
2. Require that the representatives of postsecondary institutions be faculty members, and that the representatives of the Instructional Quality Commission and the Computer Science Teachers Association be credentialed teachers.
3. Require that the computer science education organization represented on the panel be an equity-focused organization.
4. State that administrators from the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges may serve as advisors to the panel.
5. State that the statewide computer science liaison within the California Department of Education (CDE) is responsible for ensuring that the panel's recommendations are implemented, and that the liaison shall serve for a limited time after the State Board of Education (SBE) adopts standards and a curriculum framework in computer science in order to provide technical assistance to local educational agencies.
6. Specify that the CDE is to develop, and the SBE is to adopt the computer science strategic implementation plan on or before January 1, 2019.
7. State that any grants or donations received from public or private sources may be used to ensure that the plan is implemented.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

1. One-time cost of $237,000 to support the 23 member panel and to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the panel. These costs include travel, materials, and recording contracts for the panel public meetings as well as costs to support the liaison. Ongoing costs to the CDE are unknown, but funding of about $150,000 is likely needed to continue to support the liaison for a period of time after the adoption of the computer science content standards and the associated curriculum framework. See staff comments. (General Fund)
2. Unknown cost pressure, likely in the millions to implement suggested recommendations included in this bill. Costs will depend on the actual recommendations of the panel. (Proposition 98)

COMMENTS:

Need for the bill. According to the author's office, "Computer science drives job creation and innovation throughout California's economy. Currently, there are 86,436 computing jobs available in the state and by 2018, 51% of all science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs in the United States will be in computer science-related fields. However, California only had 3,525 students graduate with a computer science degree in 2015. We need to increase access to computer science courses in K – 12 education, especially for underrepresented groups. For example, in 2014, only 15% of the computer science graduates were women. Almost 9,000 students took the AP [Advanced Placement] Computer Science exam in California in 2015. Less than 150 were African American and less than 400 were Hispanic. We must bridge this gap and ensure all students have the choice and encouragement to study computer science. Computer science builds students' computational and critical thinking skills which will enable them to create, not just use, the next generation of technology innovations."

Barriers to computer science education. According to a 2015 report issued by the Level Playing Field Institute, of the more than half a million high school students in the largest 20 districts in the state, just 1% are enrolled in any computer science course, and that nearly 75% of schools with the highest percentage of underrepresented students of color offer no computer sciences courses.

Approximately 10% of schools nationwide offer computer science classes, and few large, urban school districts provide comprehensive computer science education to their students from pre-K to 12. According to the national Computer Science Teachers Association, a significant barrier is the shortage of adults who can teach computer science at a rich and rigorous level. Schools are also sometimes discouraged from scheduling computer science courses for financial and logistical reasons. Challenges include finding time in the school day and student schedules, and making sure school districts have the infrastructure needed to offer a computer science course.

Computer science standards. Current law requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to consider developing and recommending computer science content standards to the SBE, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. The enabling legislation (AB 1539 (Hagman), Chapter 876, Statutes of 2014) was intended to encourage the IQC and SBE to review the standards developed by the Computer Science Teachers Association. In 2013, the Computer Science Teachers Association created K – 12 standards with the intention that these standards would be adopted by states.

Analysis Prepared by: Tanya Lieberman, Christine Aurre / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0005024

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular Session

AB 2329 (Bonilla) - Computer science strategic implementation plan

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (Superintendent) to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel (panel) to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.

Fiscal Impact:

• One-time cost of $237,000 to support the 23 member panel and to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the panel. These costs include travel, materials, and recording contracts for the panel public meetings as well as costs to support the liaison. Ongoing costs to the California Department of Education (CDE) are unknown, but funding of about $150,000 is likely needed to continue to support the liaison for a period of time after the adoption of the computer science content standards and the associated curriculum framework. See staff comments. (General Fund)
  
• Unknown cost pressure, likely in the millions to implement suggested recommendations included in this bill. Costs will depend on the actual recommendations of the panel. See staff comments. (Proposition 98)

Background:

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education (Board), by July 31, 2019, computer science content standards based on recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. (Education Code § 60605.4)

Existing law authorizes a school district to award a student up to one mathematics course credit for successfully completing an approved computer science course for University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) admittance, if the district requires more than two courses in mathematics for graduation from high school. (EC § 51225.3 and § 51225.35)

Existing law also requires the CSU, and requests the UC, to develop guidelines for high school computer science courses to be approved for admission. (EC § 66205.5)

Proposed Law:

This bill requires the Superintendent to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan. The requirements of this bill are scheduled to sunset July 31, 2020.

Specifically, this bill requires:

• By September 1, 2017, the Superintendent to convene a panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.
• The panel to consist of, but not be limited to, 23 members which include representatives of the Governor, Legislature, Superintendent, K-12 teachers, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Computer Science Teachers Association, private sector technology industry, public and private postsecondary education, the Instructional Quality Commission, various organizations, a student, and a county office of education.
• By July 1, 2018, the panel to submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the CDE, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
• Recommendations to include: (1) broadening the pool of teachers to teach computer science; (2) defining computer science education principles that meet the needs of students in kindergarten and grades one through 12; and (3) ensuring that all students have access to quality computer science courses.
• The Superintendent to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the panel, in such activities as: coordinating the efforts of the panel, soliciting public comment, preparing reports, and ensuring that the panel’s recommendations are implemented.
• That the duration of the liaison’s role is to be for a limited period of time after the adoption of academic content standards in computer science and the curriculum framework is to provide technical assistance to local educational agencies in implementing the standards and curriculum.

This bill also provides that if state or federal funds are not sufficient, the panel is authorized to evaluate the ability to accept financial support from public or private sources to implement this bill.

Staff Comments:

This bill requires that the duration of the liaison’s role only be for a limited time subsequent to the adoption of the computer science standards and associated curriculum framework by the Board, to provide technical assistance and support to local educational agencies. The Instructional Quality Commission is required to consider developing and recommending to the Board content standards by July 31, 2019. Existing law provides that this activity is permissive and is contingent upon an appropriation for this purpose in the annual budget act. Assuming an appropriation is provided, developing the content standards and associated curriculum framework (contingent upon another appropriation and authorizing legislation), support for the liaison would likely continue for a period of time to enable him or her to support the local standards and curriculum framework implementation.

This bill also creates significant cost pressures to implement the recommendations of the panel. The suggested recommendations included in this bill would require substantial resources to implement. For example, scaling up computer science education coursework so that all high schools teach at least one computer science course would result in costs in the hundreds of millions. This assumes an average teacher salary and benefit package of $100,000. According to the CDE’s DataQuest, over 1,600 schools are offering computer education courses but only several hundred of the schools offer computer science, specifically. There are about 2,500 high schools (including charter schools) in the state. If 2,000 high schools need to hire a computer science teacher, costs would be $200 million. To ensure that all roughly 10,000 schools have access to computer science courses, costs would increase substantially.

Other suggested recommendations in the bill include providing training and professional development, creating a teacher certification pathway in computer science, expanding scholarship eligibility and loan forgiveness programs for computer science teachers, and ensuring school districts have adequate broadband connectivity and access to hardware and software.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Carol Liu, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular

Bill No:

Subject:

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education (SBE), by July 31, 2019, computer science content standards based on recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. (Education Code § 60605.4)
   
2. Requires the SPI, in consultation with the SBE, to consider convening the group of experts to develop recommendations for computer science content standards. (EC § 60605.4)
   
3. Authorizes a school district to award a student up to one mathematics course credit for successfully completing an “a-g” approved computer science course, if the district requires more than two courses in mathematics for graduation from high school. (EC § 51225.3 and § 51225.35)
   
4. Requires the California State University, and requests the University of California (UC), to develop guidelines for high school computer science courses to be approved for admission, and encourages the UC to ensure that computer science courses that satisfy the math subject area requirements for admission build upon fundamental math content in courses that align with the academic content standards. (EC § 66205.5)

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the SPI to convene, by September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the advisory panel to consist of but not be limited to the following members:
   
   1. The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) or his or her designee, who is to serve as the co-chair.
      
   2. A representative of the Governor, who is to serve as the co-chair.
      
   3. A representative designated by the Senate Rules Committee.
      
   4. A representative designated by the Speaker of the Assembly.
      
   5. Six K-12 teacher representatives, designated by the SPI. This bill states intent that these representatives include two elementary teachers, two middle school teachers, and two high school teachers who are all currently teaching. This bill further states intent that these representatives include one teacher from a large urban school district and one from a rural school district.
      
   6. A representative of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
      
   7. A credentialed teacher of the Computer Science Teachers Association.
      
   8. A representative of the private sector technology industry, designated by the SPI.
      
   9. A faculty member from the University of California (UC).
      
   10. A faculty member from the California State University (CSU).
       
   11. A faculty member from the California Community Colleges (CCCs).
       
   12. A faculty from a private postsecondary educational institution, designated by the SPI.
       
   13. A credentialed teacher from the Instructional Quality Commission.
       
   14. A representative from an equity-focused organization knowledgeable of computer science/STEM education programs, designated by the SPI.
       
   15. A representative from a parent organization, designated by the SPI.
       
   16. A representative of school administrators and superintendents, designated by the SPI.
       
   17. A student enrolled in a public school, designated by the SPI.
       
   18. A representative from a county office of education, designated by the SPI.
       
2. Authorizes administrators from the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU) and California Community Colleges (CCCs) to serve as advisors to the advisory panel to provide input on the computer science strategic implementation plan.
   
3. Requires the advisory panel to hold public meetings, post the location and time of the meetings, and post agendas online.
   
4. Requires the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the California Department of Education (CDE), the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Legislature that includes, at a minimum, recommendations on all of the following:
   
   1. Broadening the pool of teachers to teach computer science. This bill authorizes these recommendations to provide for, among other things, the following:
      
      1. Providing training and professional development for education in computer science pursuant to academic content standards that have yet to be developed.
         
      2. Creating a teacher certification pathway in computer science.
         
      3. Expanding scholarship eligibility and loan forgiveness programs for computer science teachers in low-income and underserved school districts and rural and urban school districts.
         
   2. Defining computer science education principles that meet the needs of K-12 students.
      
   3. Ensuring that all students have access to quality computer science courses. This bill authorizes these recommendations to provide for, among other things, the following:
      
      1. Scaling up computer science education coursework so that all high schools teach at least one computer science course.
         
      2. Providing access to computer science in both college and career pathways.
         
      3. Ensuring school districts have adequate broadband connectivity and infrastructure and access to hardware and software. This bill authorizes this to include but not be limited to the development of grant programs that prioritize high-need school districts.
         
      4. Removing local policy and regulatory barriers that local educational agencies face when implementing computer science education.
         
      5. Increasing the participation of students traditionally underrepresented in computer science education.
         
5. Requires the California Department of Education (CDE) and State Board of Education (SBE) to consider the recommendations submitted by the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel, and requires the CDE to develop and adopt a computer science strategic implementation plan, and submit the plan to the Legislature by January 1, 2019.
   
6. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to appoint a statewide computer science liaison within the CDE to serve the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel, including but not limited to the following actions:
   
   1. Coordinating the efforts of the advisory panel by writing up the recommendations of the advisory panel members and disseminating them to all stakeholders.
      
   2. Soliciting input and public comments.
      
   3. Preparing the necessary legislative reports to share the advisory panel’s recommendations.
      
   4. Ensuring that the advisory panel’s recommendations are considered in order to achieve the intentions of the computer science strategic implementation plan.
      
7. Provides that the duration of the liaison’s role is only through the implementation of the computer science content standards and curriculum frameworks in order to ensure that the recommendations from the advisory panel are considered for implementation.
   
8. Provides that the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel is to cease upon completion of the recommendations for a strategic plan.
   
9. Authorizes the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel, if state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for the purposes of this bill, to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the recommendations are considered by the appropriate stakeholders.
   
10. States legislative findings and declarations relative to the value of computer science education.
    
11. Sunsets the provisions of this bill on July 31, 2020.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to consider developing and recommending to the State Board of Education K-12 computer science content standards by July 31, 2019, and requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to consider convening a panel of experts to develop recommendations on computer science standards. However, existing law is permissive and contingent upon funding; the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) has not considered developing computer science standards, nor has the SPI convened a panel of experts. “In order to address all of the barriers, it is necessary to have a coordinated approach that involves all of the appropriate stakeholders. Computer science drives job creation and innovation throughout California’s economy. Currently, there are 86,436 computing jobs available in the state and by 2018, 51% of all science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs in the United States will be in computer science-related fields. However, California only had 3,525 students graduate with a computer science degree in 2015. We need to increase access to computer science courses in K-12 education, especially for underrepresented groups. Almost 9,000 students took the advanced placement (AP) computer science exam in California in 2015. Less than 150 were African American and less than 400 were Hispanic.”
   
2. Advisory panel. Existing law requires the SPI to consider convening a panel of experts to develop recommendations on computer science standards. However, existing law is permissive and contingent upon funding; this advisory panel has not been convened. This bill requires the SPI to convene, by September 1, 2017, a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.
   
3. Liaison. This bill requires the SPI to appoint a statewide computer science liaison within the California Department of Education to serve the advisory panel and, pursuant to amendments recommended in #12, provide technical assistance and support to local educational agencies in implementing the computer science standards and framework (assuming standards and framework are adopted by the State Board of Education). Staff is unaware of other measures that have assigned an individual to staff the issue and see it through implementation.
   
4. Clarifying amendments. Staff recommends the following amendments:
   
   On page 7, lines 18-35: (a) The Superintendent shall appoint a statewide computer science liaison within the department to serve the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel, including, but not limited to, in the following the actions:

(1) Coordinating the efforts of the advisory panel by writing up the recommendations of the advisory panel members and disseminating them to all stakeholders.

(2) Soliciting input and public comments.

(3) Preparing the necessary legislative reports to share the advisory panel’s recommendations.

(4) Ensuring that the advisory panel’s recommendations adopted by the state board are implemented are considered in order to achieve the intentions of the computer science strategic implementation plan.

(b) The duration of the liaison’s role shall only be for a limited period of time subsequent to the adoption by the state board of academic content standards in computer science and the curricular framework for computer science in order to provide technical assistance and support to local educational agencies in commencing implementation of the computer science standards and framework through the implementation of the computer science content standards and curriculum frameworks in order to ensure that the recommendations from the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel are considered for implementation.

On page 7, lines 36-40 and page 8 lines 1-2: The department and state board shall consider the recommendations submitted by the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel pursuant to Section 53311,. The department shall develop, and the state board shall adopt, a computer science strategic implementation plan on or before January 1, 2019., and The department shall submit the plan adopted by the state board to the Legislature in conformance with Section 9795 of the Government Code on or before January 1, 2019.

On page 8, lines 3-10: If state or federal funds are not available or sufficient for purposes of this chapter, the computer science strategic implementation advisory panel may evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of convening the advisory panel, preparing the computer science strategic implementation plan, and ensuring that the computer science strategic implementation plan adopted by the state board is implemented recommendations are considered by the appropriate stakeholders.

On page 7, line 21, strike the second “the.”

1. Fiscal impact. According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill imposes:
   
   1. General Fund administrative costs of approximately $270,000 for the California Department of Education to staff the stakeholder group. Costs include review of potential member applications, arranging meeting logistics and travel for members, preparation of meeting materials, and reports to the Legislature. Staff notes that this estimate does not include the three additional stakeholder members pursuant to recent amendments.
      
   2. Proposition 98/General Fund cost pressure, in the millions of dollars, to implement the recommendations of the advisory board.
      
2. Related legislation. AB 2275 (Dababneh, 2016) authorizes a person who possesses a single subject teaching credential in business, industrial and technology education, mathematics, or science or a designated subjects career technical education teaching credential to teach computer science to all students, including students enrolled in a general education or college preparatory course or a career technical education pathway. AB 2275 was never heard.
   
3. Prior legislation. AB 1258 (Chau, 2015) required the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to establish a computer science education grant pilot program for local educational agencies to establish, expand and maintain computer science courses and provide professional development in computer science. AB 1258 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
   
   AB 1530 (Chau, 2014) required the SPI to consider identifying, developing or revising model curriculum on computer science for kindergarten - 6^th grade. AB 1530 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
   
   AB 2110 (Ting, 2014) required the Instructional Quality Commission to consider incorporating computer science curriculum content into the mathematics, science, history-social science, and English language arts/English language development frameworks. AB 2110 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SUPPORT

Accenture, LLP

Alliance for California Computing Education for Students and Schools (ACCESS)

Amazon

Bloom Energy

CA Technologies

California Chamber of Commerce

California School Boards Association

CALinnovates

Cisco Systems Limited

Code.org

Common Sense Kids Action

eBay Inc.

General Motors

HP Inc.

Intel

Intuit

Level Playing Field Institute

Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom

Lyft

Microsoft

Million Women Mentors

Oracle

PayPal

Qualcomm

Silicon Valley Leadership Group

SolarCity

TechNet

Yahoo!

OPPOSITION

None received.

-- END --

Date of Hearing: April 6, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Patrick O'Donnell, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2329 (

Author:Bonilla) – As Amended Ver:March 28, 2016

SUBJECT: Computer science strategic implementation plan

SUMMARY: Establishes a computer science strategic implementation advisory board to develop a K-12 computer science strategic implementation plan. Specifically, this bill:

1. States findings and declarations relative to the importance of access to computer science education in California.
2. Requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to establish a computer science strategic implementation advisory board (advisory board) on or before March 1, 2017 to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan (plan).
3. Requires the advisory board to be made up of the following:

one representative, appointed by the Governor, to serve as chair of the advisory board

one representative appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules

one representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly

one representative of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI)

one representative of the State Board of Education (SBE)

one representative of the CDE

one representative of a K – 12 teacher faculty association, appointed by the Governor

one representative of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)

one representative of the Computer Science Teachers Association

one representative of a large urban school district, appointed by the Governor

one representative of a rural school district, appointed by the Governor

one representative of the private sector technology industry, appointed by the Governor

one representative of the University of California (UC)

one representative of the California State University (CSU)

one representative of the California Community Colleges

one representative of the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC)

one representative of a nonprofit student/school advocacy organization, appointed by the Governor

one representative of parent organization, appointed by the Governor

one representative of school administrators and superintendents, appointed by the Governor

1. Requires the advisory board to submit to the CDE and SBE, on or before March 1, 2018, recommendations on all of the following:

broadening the pool of teachers to teach computer science. These recommendations may provide for the following:

• • 1. providing training and professional development for education in computer science
    2. creating a teacher certification pathway in computer science
    3. expanding scholarship eligibility and loan forgiveness programs for computer science teachers in low-income and underserved school districts and rural and urban school districts
  1. developing computer science content standards. These recommendations may provide for the following:

defining computer science education principles that meet the needs of all K – 12 students

building on the successful integration of computer science into the California science standards

adapting computer science education standards being developed in other states to address the needs of California pupils

building on K – 12 computer science frameworks developed by nationally recognized computer science organizations and experts

ensuring that all students have access to quality computer science courses, which may include scaling up computer science education coursework so that all high schools offer at least one computer science course.

procuring a pathway for computer science to count toward high school graduation and college admission requirements

providing access to computer science in both college and career pathways

ensuring that school districts have adequate broadband connectivity and infrastructure and access to hardware and software

1. Requires the Governor to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the advisory board by coordinating the efforts of the advisory board and ensuring that the advisory board’s recommendations are implemented to achieve the goals of the computer science strategic implementation plan.
2. Requires the advisory board to report any necessary legislative changes related to computer science education to the SBE and CDE on or before January 1, 2018.
3. Requires the SBE and CDE to consider the recommendations submitted by both the advisory board and the IQC, develop and adopt a computer science strategic implementation plan, and submit the plan to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019.
4. Sunsets the requirements of the bill on January 1, 2021.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires the IQC to consider developing and recommending to the SBE, on or before July 31, 2019, computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12 pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts.
2. Requires students in grades 9 – 12, inclusive, to take three courses in English, two courses in mathematics, two courses in science, three courses in social studies, one course in visual or performing arts, foreign language, or career technical education, and two courses in physical education. Also authorizes school districts to implement additional graduation requirements.
3. States that, if a school district requires more than two courses in mathematics for graduation from high school, the district may award a pupil up to one mathematics course credit for successfully completing a “category c” approved computer science course.
4. Authorizes a school district to award mathematics credit for completion of a CSU and UC approved “category c” computer science course, if the district requires more than two years of mathematics courses for graduation.
5. Requires the Trustees of the CSU, and requests the Regents of the UC, to establish a uniform set of academic standards, and create guidelines for high school computer science courses, to satisfy the “A-G” subject requirements for the area of mathematics for purposes of recognition for undergraduate admission at their respective institutions.
6. Requires CSU and requests UC to establish a model uniform set of academic standards for computer science high school courses for the purposes of recognition for admission, and to develop and implement a speedy process whereby high schools may obtain approval of their courses to satisfy specified admissions requirements.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

Need for the bill. According to the author’s office, “Computer science drives job creation and innovation throughout California’s economy. Currently, there are 86,436 computing jobs available in the state and by 2018, 51% of all science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs in the United States will be in computer science-related fields. However, California only had 3,525 students graduate with a computer science degree in 2015. We need to increase access to computer science courses in K – 12 education, especially for underrepresented groups. For example, in 2014, only 15% of the computer science graduates were women. Almost 9,000 students took the AP Computer Science exam in California in 2015. Less than 150 were African American and less than 400 were Hispanic. We must bridge this gap and ensure all students have the choice and encouragement to study computer science. Computer science builds students’ computational and critical thinking skills which will enable them to create, not just use, the next generation of technology innovations.”

National and state focus on computer science: Computer science is an active and applied field of STEM learning that allows students to engage in hands-on, real-world interaction with key math, science, and engineering principles. The author notes that these skills are quickly becoming necessary for all students to be successful in college, career, and life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is predicted that by the year 2020, 4.6 million jobs will be in computing or information technology, which is more than all other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields combined. In light of this demand, California policymakers, business leaders, and educators have made a conscious effort to expand computer science education, as evidenced by the numerous bills signed into law in the 2013-14 Session.

At the federal level, President Obama has proposed a “Computer Science for All Initiative.” The proposal, subject to appropriation, would provide $4 billion over three years to states to increase access to computer science in all classrooms. States would be required to submit comprehensive five-year “Computer Science for All” plans, and every state with a well-designed strategy would receive funds. In addition to state-level grants, the President’s proposed budget would dedicate $100 million in competitive grants specifically for leading districts to execute “ambitious computer science expansion efforts” for all students, including traditionally underrepresented students. This author argues that the plan proposed by this bill is aligned with the President’s plan, and is intended to help better position California to leverage future federal funds for computer science education.

From using technology to creating it. Coursework offered in Computer Science education in California public schools had evolved rapidly over the last decade. Instruction which once focused on basic computer use, such as keyboarding, is now focused on teaching students how to create – not simply use – new technologies.

According to the International Society for Technology in Education’s report, ISTE Standards for Computer Science Education, modern computer science involves more than just programming. Students must also learn about computers and algorithmic processes, hardware and software designs, their applications, their impacts on society, among many other important habits of mind. The report notes that the field of computer science will continue to rapidly evolve in sometimes unpredictable ways, and as such, plans for teaching computer science will also need the flexibility to continuously adapt.

Access to computer science education. According to a May 2015 report issued by the Level Playing Field Institute titled, Path Not Found: Disparities in Access to Computer Science Courses in California High Schools, access to computer science courses varies considerably. The report found that in California public high schools:

• Of the more than half a million high school students in the largest 20 districts, just 1% are enrolled in any computer science course.
• Nearly 75% of schools with the highest percentage of underrepresented students of color offer no computer sciences courses.
• African-American and Latino students make up 59% of California high school public school students but were just 11% of the 2014 AP Computer Science test takers.
• Only 4% of schools with the highest percentage of low-income students offer AP Computer Science courses.
• Only 8% of schools with the highest percentage of English Learners offered AP Computer Science courses.
• According to the author, of the high school students who took the AP computer science exam in 2015, only 26 percent were female, 973 were Latino, and 148 were African American.

Given this evidence, and consistent with the author’s intent to increase access to computer science education for students in underrepresented communities, staff recommends that the advisory board be specifically tasked with making recommendations for increasing the participation from students traditionally underrepresented in computer science education and professions.

Barriers to computer science education: Approximately 10% of schools nationwide offer computer science classes, and few large, urban school districts provide comprehensive computer science education to their students from pre-K to 12. According to the Computer Science Teachers Association, “Roughly two-thirds of the fifty states do not have computer science standards for secondary school education. Even when they exist, computer science standards at the K-8 level often confuse computer science and the use of applications.” These gaps could pose barriers to the scaling up of computer science education.

According to the Computer Science Teachers Association, a significant barrier is the shortage of adults who can teach computer science at a rich and rigorous level. In a 2013 survey of computer science teachers, the Association found that 40% of those said the greatest challenge in teaching computer science is a lack of support or interest from school staff. Another 35% said a lack of student interest or enrollment was the greatest challenge. Rapidly changing technology and a lack of curriculum resources were cited as the greatest challenge by 31% and 24% of teachers, respectively.

Schools are sometimes discouraged from scheduling computer science courses for financial and logistical reasons. Challenges include finding time in packed school day and packed student schedules, and making sure school districts have the wiring, hardware and software needed to teach a computer science course. Because computer science courses are often designed for smaller class sizes – about 20 students as opposed to 35 students – schools might view them as expensive to offer.

Status of California computer science standards. Current law requires the IQC to consider developing and recommending computer science content standards to the SBE, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. The enabling legislation (AB 1539, Hagman, Statutes of 2014) was intended to encourage the IQC and SBE to review the standards developed by the Computer Science Teachers Association. 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.

This bill requires the CDE and SBE to develop and adopt a computer science strategic implementation plan, pursuant to recommendations by both this bill’s advisory board, and the IQC. The requirements of this bill seem duplicative of existing law, yet the author argues that current requirements are permissive and the IQC has not yet received funding to assist in the development of computer science standards to present the SBE.

Teacher certification in computer science. 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.

In a 2013 report titled Bugs in the System: Computer Science Teacher Certification in the U.S., the Computer Science Teachers Association wrote that, nationally, “teacher certification programs in this subject are confused, disparate and sometimes absurd,” and that the process is “typified by confounding processes and illogical procedures—bugs in the system that keep it from functioning as intended.” They recommend, among other changes, the establishment of pathways for people to transition from industry to teaching, the development of a Praxis Computer Science examination, and requirements for teacher preparation institutions to include programs to prepare computer science teachers.

The CTC recently modified their Computer Concepts and Applications authorization to reflect a change in focus from teaching basic computer use, keyboarding, and software application to broader preparation in computer science education. The CTC approved the proposed modifications, including changing the name of the authorization to “Computer Science,” earlier this year. As of this month, teachers can apply for the modified supplementary authorization.

Computer science in college admissions. Current state law requires the CSU, and requests the UC, to establish a uniform set of academic standards and to create guidelines for high school computer science courses which satisfy the “A-G” math requirements.

According to the CSU, if a computer science course if fundamentally grounded in math, then the CSU considers placing it in the “C” category. However, because there are vast differences in the types of computer sciences courses offered, the CSU currently evaluates each high school computer science course on a program-by-program basis. Additionally, they have found that the computer science courses offered that do satisfy “category c” requirements are few-and-far between.

Computer science as a high school graduation requirement. In what may soon be a trend in the state, the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) announced plans in June 2015 to phase-in teaching computer science to all students, at all schools, from preschool to 12th grade. While the curriculum for SFUSD’s plan is still under development, the district plans to have major concepts taught at each grade level. Even in preschool, students will use blocks to build robots in order to introduce the concepts of procedural thinking, cause and effect, decomposition of complex tasks, and pattern recognition, as well as the ability to notice similarities or common differences, abstraction and algorithm design and the ability to develop a step-by-step strategy for solving a problem.

This year, 13 middle schools will be offering a course, reaching approximately 30 percent of middle school age students with 45 hours of computer science instruction, up from one percent of middle school students who participated in a computer science course in the 2014-2015 school year. SFUSD predicts it will take several years before every student at every grade is learning computer science. Funding for the computer science expansion will come from the district, industry partnerships, and a $5 million grant from a private foundation.

Chicago Public Schools (which is the nation’s third largest school district) are also in the process of establishing a K-12 computer science program. According to press reports, in the next three years every high school will offer a foundational computer science course, and in the next five years, at least half will also offer an Advanced Placement computer science course. Starting with next school year’s freshman high school class, students will be required to complete computer science coursework prior to graduation.

Arguments in support: TechNet, the sponsor of the bill, writes, “Providing recommendations for the computer science implementation plan will move California schools forward in a coordinated fashion to expose more children to computer science at a younger age and will prepare them for technology jobs that California has to offer. This bill will help better position California with the necessary research and development to leverage future federal funds for computer science education. Ultimately, this plan will help the state reach the goal of having computer science curriculum in every school.”

Recommended amendments: Staff recommends the following amendments:

1. The bill requires CDE it establish a computer science strategic implementation board by March 1, 2017. If this bill enacted it will likely require an appropriation, which would not be available until July 1, 2017. Staff recommends delaying the board’s establishment until July 1, 2017.
2. This bill requires that both the SPI and the CDE serve on the board. Since the SPI and the CDE are essentially the same entity, staff recommends that the representative of the CDE be deleted.
3. Staff recommends adding a student representative to the advisory board, appointed by the SPI.
4. Redraft subdivision (b) of Section 53311 to create a new subdivision for topics listed that are not related to computer science content standards.
5. To allow for the broadest possible look at barriers to computer science education, authorize the advisory board to report on any other barriers local education agencies face regarding computer science education, in addition to the topics specifically cited by the bill.
6. As noted above, require the advisory board to make recommendations on increasing the participation from students traditionally and currently underrepresented in computer science education and professions.

Related legislation: AB 2237 (Olsen) of this Session would establish the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Partnership Academies program, for the purposes of providing grants to school districts to establish up to 100 partnership academies dedicated to training students in STEM occupations. This bill currently pending in the Assembly Education Committee.

AB 2275 (Dababneh) of this Session would authorize a person who holds a single subject credential in business, industrial and technology education, mathematics or science to teach courses in computer science. This bill is currently pending in the Assembly Education Committee.

AB 1258 (Chau) of this Session would have established a Computer Science Start-Up Courses Grant Pilot Program and a Computer Science Educator Training Grant Pilot program, for the purposes of providing grants to school districts to establish and maintain computer science courses and provide professional development for educators to teach computer science. This bill was held in Senate Appropriations Committee.

AB 252 (Holden) of this Session would have established a grant program tow award funds to cover the costs associated with a high school establishing or expanding its advanced placement STEM curriculum. This bill was held in Senate Appropriations Committee.

Prior legislation: AB 1539 (Hagman), Chapter 876, Statutes of 2014, required the IQC to consider developing and recommending to the SBE, on or before July 31, 2019, computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12 pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts.

AB 1530 (Chau) of the 2013-14 Session would have required the SPI to consider identifying existing model curricula for kindergarten to grade 6 on computer science. The bill also would have required the SPI to consider the revision of existing, or the development of new, model curricula on computer science, and to consider submitting any model curricula revised or developed as a result of this bill to the SBE for adoption. This bill was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AB 1540 (Hagman) of the 2013-14 Session would have expanded opportunities for high school pupils to concurrently enroll in a community college to undertake one or more courses in computer science. This bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 2110 (Ting) of the 2013-14 Session would have required the IQC to consider incorporating computer science curriculum content into the mathematics, science, history-social science, and English language arts/English language development curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised. This bill was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AB 1764 (Olsen), Chapter 888, Statutes of 2014, authorized the governing board of a school district that requires two or more courses in mathematics for graduation to award a student up to one mathematics course credit for successfully completing an approved computer science course.

SB 1200 (Padilla), Chapter 158, Statutes of 2014, required the Trustees of the CSU, and requested the Regents of the UC, to establish a uniform set of academic standards and to create guidelines for high school computer science courses, to satisfy the “A-G” subject requirements for the area of mathematics for purposes of recognition for undergraduate admission at their respective institutions.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

TechNet (Sponsor)

Alliance for California Computing Education for Students and Schools

California Chamber of Commerce

California Manufacturers & Technology Association

Children Now

Code.org

Los Angeles Unified School District

Microsoft

Opposition

None received

Analysis Prepared by: Christine Aurre and Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:

Author:(Bonilla)

As Amended Ver:May 27, 2016

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan. Specifically, this bill:

1. Makes findings and declarations relative to the importance of access to computer science education in California.
2. Requires the SPI to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel by September 1, 2017, in order to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan (plan).
3. Requires the advisory panel to hold public meetings, post the location and time of the meetings, and post agendas online.
4. Requires members of the advisory panel to possess expertise in computer science, and specifies the panel must be made up of the following:
   1. The SPI, or his or her designee, who shall serve as co-chair of the advisory panel
   2. One representative of the Governor, who shall serve as co-chair of the advisory panel
   3. One representative designated by the Senate Committee on Rules
   4. One representative designated by the Speaker of the Assembly
   5. Three K-12 teacher representatives, designated by the SPI
   6. One representative of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)
   7. One representative of the Computer Science Teachers Association
   8. One representative of the private sector technology industry, designated by the SPI
   9. One representative of the University of California (UC)
   10. One representative of the California State University (CSU)
   11. One representative of the California Community Colleges
   12. One representative of a private postsecondary education institution, designated by the SPI
   13. One representative of the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC)
   14. One representative of a computer science/STEM education and research program, designated by the SPI
   15. One representative of a parent organization, designated by the SPI
   16. One representative of school administrators and superintendents, designated by the SPI
   17. One pupil enrolled in a public school, designated by the SPI
   18. One representative of a county office of education, designated by the SPI
5. Requires the advisory panel to submit to the California Department of Education (CDE), the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Legislature by July 1, 2018, recommendations on all of the following:
   1. Broadening the pool of teachers to teach computer science, which may include recommendations on?
      1. Providing training and professional development for education in computer science
      2. Creating a teacher certification pathway in computer science
      3. Expanding scholarship eligibility and loan forgiveness programs for computer science teachers in low income and underserved school districts and rural and urban school districts
   2. Defining computer science education principles that meet the needs of all K-12 students
   3. Ensuring that all students have access to quality computer science courses, which may include?
      1. Scaling up computer science education coursework so that all high schools offer at least one computer science course
      2. Providing access to computer science in both college and career pathways
      3. Ensuring school districts have adequate broadband connectivity and infrastructure and access to hardware and software, which may include the development of grant programs that prioritize high-need school districts
      4. Removing local policy and regulatory barriers that local education agencies face when implementing computer science education
      5. Increasing the participation of students traditionally underrepresented in computer science education
6. Requires the advisory panel to cease operations upon completion of the recommendations for the plan.
7. Requires the SPI to appoint a statewide computer science liaison within CDE to serve the advisory panel in the following areas:
   1. Coordinating the efforts of the advisory panel by writing up the panel recommendations and disseminating them to all stakeholders
   2. Soliciting input and public comment
   3. Preparing the required Legislative reports to share the advisory panel's recommendations
   4. Ensuring that the advisory panel's recommendations are considered in order to achieve the intentions of the plan
8. Requires the computer science liaison to ensure recommendations from the advisory panel are considered through the implementation of computer science content standards and curriculum frameworks, and requires that the duration of the liaison position be only through the implementation of the computer science standards and frameworks.
9. Requires CDE and the SBE to consider the recommendations submitted by the advisory panel, develop and adopt the plan, and submit the plan to the Legislature by January 1, 2019.
10. Authorizes the advisory panel to evaluate the process and ability to accept grants and receive donations from public or private sources, if panel finds that state or federal funds are not sufficient.
11. Sunsets the requirements of the bill on January 1, 2021.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:

1. General Fund administrative costs of approximately $270,000 for the CDE to staff the stakeholder group. Costs include review of potential member applications, arranging meeting logistics and travel for members, preparation of meeting materials, and reports to the Legislature.
2. Proposition 98/General Fund cost pressure, in the millions of dollars, to implement the recommendations of the advisory board.

COMMENTS:

Need for the bill. According to the author's office, "Computer science drives job creation and innovation throughout California's economy. Currently, there are 86,436 computing jobs available in the state and by 2018, 51% of all science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs in the United States will be in computer science-related fields. However, California only had 3,525 students graduate with a computer science degree in 2015. We need to increase access to computer science courses in K–12 education, especially for underrepresented groups. For example, in 2014, only 15% of the computer science graduates were women. Almost 9,000 students took the [Advanced Placement] AP Computer Science exam in California in 2015. Less than 150 were African American and less than 400 were Hispanic. We must bridge this gap and ensure all students have the choice and encouragement to study computer science. Computer science builds students' computational and critical thinking skills which will enable them to create, not just use, the next generation of technology innovations."

Barriers to computer science education. According to a 2015 report issued by the Level Playing Field Institute, of the more than half a million high school students in the largest 20 districts in the state, just 1% are enrolled in any computer science course, and that nearly 75% of schools with the highest percentage of underrepresented students of color offer no computer sciences courses.

Approximately 10% of schools nationwide offer computer science classes, and few large, urban school districts provide comprehensive computer science education to their students from pre-K to 12. According to the national Computer Science Teachers Association, a significant barrier is the shortage of adults who can teach computer science at a rich and rigorous level. Schools are also sometimes discouraged from scheduling computer science courses for financial and logistical reasons. Challenges include finding time in the school day and student schedules, and making sure school districts have the infrastructure needed to offer a computer science course.

Computer science standards. Current law requires the IQC to consider developing and recommending computer science content standards to the SBE, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. The enabling legislation (AB 1539 (Hagman), Chapter 876, Statutes of 2014) was intended to encourage the IQC and SBE to review the standards developed by the Computer Science Teachers Association. In 2013, the Computer Science Teachers Association created K – 12 standards with the intention that these standards would be adopted by states.

Analysis Prepared by: Christine Aurre and Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0003325

Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2329

Author:(Bonilla) – As Amended Ver:April 13, 2016

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to establish a computer science strategic implementation advisory board on or before July 1, 2017 to develop recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan (plan). Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the advisory board to be comprised of 20 members, including: a representative appointed by the Governor, a representative from each house of the Legislature, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), the State Board of Education (SBE), the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, higher education segments, teachers, a variety of school district representatives, the private sector, and parents.
2. Requires the advisory board to submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the CDE and the SBE on or before March 1, 2018.
3. Requires the recommendations to include ways to broaden the pool of computer science teachers, including; professional development and training, certification pathways, scholarships and loan forgiveness.
4. Requires the advisory board to provide recommendations on the development of computer science standards, including, defining K-12 computer science education principles and building on the computer science frameworks.
5. Requires the advisory board to provide recommendations to ensure all pupils have access to quality computer science courses, including, removing local barriers that local educational agencies face when implementing computer science education and increasing the participation of pupils traditionally underrepresented in computer science education.
6. Requires the Governor to appoint a statewide computer science liaison to serve the advisory board. Duties include coordinating the efforts of the advisory board and ensuring that the advisory board’s recommendations are implemented to achieve the intentions of the computer science strategic implementation plan.
7. Requires the advisory board to report any necessary legislative changes related to computer science education to the SBE and to the CDE on or before January 1, 2018.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. General Fund administrative costs of approximately $400,000 for the CDE to staff the stakeholder group. Costs include review of potential member applications, arranging meeting logistics and travel for members, preparation of meeting materials, and reports to the Legislature. This cost estimate does not include the statewide computer science liaison that would serve the advisory board. It is unclear what the role of the liaison would be since the advisory board would be established by the CDE. The cost estimate assumes CDE would staff the advisory board.
2. Proposition 98/GF cost pressure, in the millions of dollars, to implement the recommendations of the advisory board, including standards development, teacher recruitment and retention efforts such as scholarships and student loan forgiveness, and professional development.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to TechNet, the sponsor of the bill, providing recommendations for the computer science implementation plan will move California schools forward in a coordinated fashion to expose more children to computer science at a younger age and will prepare them for technology jobs that California has to offer. This bill will help better position California with the necessary research and development to leverage future federal funds for computer science education. Ultimately, this plan will help the state reach the goal of having computer science curriculum in every school.
2. Comments. Current law requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to consider developing and recommending computer science content standards to the SBE, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. The enabling legislation (AB 1539, Hagman, Statutes of 2014) was intended to encourage the IQC and SBE to review the standards developed by the Computer Science Teachers Association. 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.

This bill requires the CDE and SBE to develop and adopt a computer science strategic implementation plan, pursuant to recommendations by both this bill’s advisory board, and the IQC. The requirements of this bill appear to be duplicative. The author states the bill is necessary because current law requires the IQC to merely "consider" developing standards and the IQC has not yet received funding to assist in the development of computer science standards.

Analysis Prepared by: Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081