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AB-20 Computer science strategic implementation plan: California Computer Science Coordinator.(2019-2020)

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Date Published: 03/20/2019 09:00 PM
AB20:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 20, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 04, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 20

Introduced by Assembly Member Berman
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Luz Rivas)
(Principal coauthor: Senator Wiener)

December 03, 2018

An act to add Section 53314.5 to the Education Code, relating to school curriculum.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 20, as amended, Berman. Computer science strategic implementation plan: California Computer Science Coordinator.
Existing law, until July 31, 2020, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a computer science strategic implementation advisory panel with a specified membership to develop and submit recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan to the Superintendent, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
This bill would create the California Computer Science Coordinator in the State Department of Education to provide statewide coordination in implementing the computer science strategic implementation plan once it has been adopted by the state board and submitted to the Legislature. The bill would declare it is the intent of the Legislature that the California Computer Science Coordinator work to advance the mission of the computer science strategic implementation plan and provide state-level leadership and support for initiatives related to 4 specified overarching strategies for implementing computer science education across the state.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Computer science builds pupils’ computational, critical thinking, and deeper learning skills, which enables them to understand and create, and not simply use, the next generation of technological tools.
(b) Computer science is transforming industry, bolstering productivity in established economic sectors, and driving job creation and innovation throughout our state’s economy.
(c) Providing access to computer science education is a critical step for ensuring that the state remains competitive in the global economy and strengthens its cybersecurity.
(d) The outlook for computer science jobs is bright, with over 500,000 open computing positions across the country.
(e) Participation in high-quality computer science activities exposes pupils to the rich opportunities the field offers.
(f) Computing occupations make up two-thirds of all projected new jobs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, making computer science one of the most in-demand college majors.
(g) Computer science education has challenges to address, including counting computer science classes toward high school graduation requirements and providing professional development for computer science teachers.
(h) There are fewer advanced placement (AP) examinations taken in computer science than in any other STEM subject area.
(i) The field of computer science has significant equity barriers to address, including attracting more participation by young women and underrepresented minorities to all levels and branches.
(j) Pupil exposure to computer science at a young age has the potential to address the diversity gap in computer science fields.
(k) 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.
(l) Beginning in March 2018, the State Department of Education convened the Computer Science Strategic Implementation Plan Panel to develop a set of recommendations for a computer science strategic implementation plan.
(m) On September 6, 2018, the State Board of Education adopted the state’s first-ever Computer Science Standards.

SEC. 2.

 Section 53314.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

53314.5.
 (a) The California Computer Science Coordinator is hereby created in the department to provide statewide coordination in implementing the computer science strategic implementation plan once it has been adopted by the state board and submitted to the Legislature.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Computer Science Coordinator work to advance the mission of the computer science strategic implementation plan, adopted pursuant to this chapter, and both of the following:
(1) Having all schools offer rigorous and relevant computer science education equitably and sustainably throughout kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(2) Ensuring all teachers are adequately prepared to teach rigorous and relevant computer science aligned with the state’s content standards in computer science strategic implementation plan for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(c) It is further the intent of the Legislature that the California Computer Science Coordinator provide state-level leadership and support for initiatives related to the following four overarching strategies for implementing computer science education across the state, as specified in the computer science strategic implementation plan adopted pursuant to this chapter:
(1) Expanding computer science course offerings in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(2) Improving access to computer science education for all pupils.
(3) Supporting educators who teach computer science.
(4) Making systematic improvements in computer science education.