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AB-2072 High school diplomas: State Seal of STEM.(2015-2016)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Article 7 (commencing with Section 51470) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

Article  7. State Seal of STEM
51470.
 The State Seal of STEM is established to recognize high school graduates who have attained proficiency in fields of study within the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The State Seal of STEM shall be awarded by the Superintendent. School district participation in this program is voluntary.
51471.
 The purposes of the State Seal of STEM are as follows:
(a) To encourage pupils to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b) To certify achievement within the STEM fields.
(c) To provide pupils with a tool to demonstrate STEM competency to employers.
(d) To provide universities with a method to recognize and give academic credit to applicants seeking admission.
(e) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.
(f) To engage pupils in STEM learning at an early age.
(g) To prepare pupils for a job market increasingly in need of individuals with STEM skills.
51472.
 The State Seal of STEM certifies that a graduating high school pupil has attained proficiency in STEM and meets all of the following criteria:
(a) Attained a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for STEM courses taken in high school.
(b) Successfully completed four year-long courses, or the equivalent, in mathematics and four year-long courses, or the equivalent, in science while enrolled in high school. The requirement for completion of up to one of the year-long courses in mathematics may be satisfied by completion of a course or courses in computer science.
(c) Has one of the following:
(1) A score of 3 or higher on an advanced placement examination in science.
(2) A score of 600 or higher on an SAT subject test in science.
(3) A score of 4 or higher on an international baccalaureate examination in science.
(4) A grade of B or higher in a college-level science course taken through concurrent enrollment.
(5) A score indicating that the pupil has met or exceeded standards on a state-standards-aligned assessment in science.
(d) Has one of the following:
(1) A score of 3 or higher on an advanced placement examination in mathematics.
(2) A score of 600 or higher on an SAT subject test in mathematics.
(3) A score of 4 or higher on an international baccalaureate examination in mathematics.
(4) A grade of B or higher in a college-level mathematics course taken through concurrent enrollment.
(5) A score indicating that the pupil has met or exceeded standards on a state-standards-aligned assessment in mathematics.
51473.
 The Superintendent shall do both of the following:
(a) Prepare and deliver to participating school districts an appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript of the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a State Seal of STEM by the Superintendent.
(b) Provide other information he or she deems necessary for school districts to successfully participate in the program.
51474.
 A school district that participates in the program under this article shall do both of the following:
(a) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who have earned a State Seal of STEM.
(b) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript of each pupil who earns a State Seal of STEM.
51475.
 No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive a State Seal of STEM.
51476.
 This chapter shall not become operative until after data from the statewide administration of state science assessments aligned to the California Next Generation Science Standards are available. Data from a field test of a state science assessment does not satisfy this section.
51477.
 This chapter shall become inoperative on July 31, 2024, and, as of January 1, 2025, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2025, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.