Bills

ACR 265: California Computer Science Education Month.

Session Year: 2017-2018
House: Assembly
Latest Version Date: 2018-09-05

Version:

This measure would designate the month of September 2018 as California Computer Science Education Month. The measure would encourage schools, teachers, researchers, universities, business leaders, and policymakers to identify mechanisms for teachers to receive cutting-edge professional development to provide sustainable learning experiences in computer science education, and would encourage the exposure of pupils to computer science concepts. The measure would also encourage opportunities to be provided for females and underrepresented minorities in computer science.

Version:

WHEREAS, California Computer Science Education Month highlights the crucial role that computer science plays in transforming our society, and also highlights how computer science enables innovation and creates economic opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Computing technology is an integral part of modern culture, and is transforming how people interact with each other and the world around them; and

WHEREAS, Computer science builds students computational, critical thinking, and deeper learning skills, which enables them to understand and create, and not simply use, the next generation of technological tools; and

WHEREAS, Computer science is transforming industry, bolstering productivity in established economic sectors, and driving job creation and innovation throughout our states economy; and

WHEREAS, Providing access to computer science education is a critical step for ensuring that California remains competitive in the global economy and strengthens its cybersecurity; and

WHEREAS, The outlook for computer science jobs is bright, with over 500,000 open computing positions across the country; and

WHEREAS, Participation in high-quality computer science activities exposes students to the rich opportunities the field offers; and

WHEREAS, Computing occupations make up two-thirds of all projected new jobs in STEM fields, making computer science one of the most in-demand college majors; and

WHEREAS, Computer science education has challenges to address, including counting computer science classes towards high school graduation requirements and providing professional development for computer science teachers; and

WHEREAS, There are fewer advanced placement (AP) examinations taken in computer science than in any other STEM subject area; and

WHEREAS, The field of computer science has significant equity barriers to address, including attracting more participation by females and underrepresented minorities to all levels and branches; and

WHEREAS, Student exposure to computer science at a young age has the potential to address the diversity gap in computer science fields; and

WHEREAS, Girls who take an AP computer science course in high school are 10 times more likely to major in computer science in college. African American and Latino pupils who take the course in high school are over seven times more likely to major in computer science in college; and

WHEREAS, In September, the State Board of Education will be presented with Computer Science Standards for potential adoption and recommendations for implementation of computer science education across the states K12 system developed by the computer science strategic implementation plan panel; and

WHEREAS, In September, the Instructional Quality Commission will be presented with a draft computer science strategic implementation plan; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the month of September 2018 as California Computer Science Education Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature supports the designation of September 2018 as California Computer Science Education Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages schools, teachers, researchers, universities, business leaders, and policymakers to identify mechanisms for teachers to receive cutting-edge professional development to provide sustainable learning experiences in computer science at all educational levels and encourages the exposure of pupils to computer science concepts; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages opportunities, including those provided through existing programs, to be provided for females and underrepresented minorities in computer science; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.