Bill Text: CA AB1258 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Elementary and secondary education: Computer Science

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [AB1258 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1258-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1258	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chau

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to  amend Section 51020 of   add
Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section 52975) to Part 28 of Division 4
of Title 2 of, and to   repeal Section 52979 of,  the
Education Code, relating to elementary and secondary education  ,
and making an appropriation therefor  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1258, as amended, Chau. Elementary and secondary education:
 goals.   Computer Science Education Grant
Program.  
   Existing law sets standards and guidelines for educational
programs for the public schools of the state, including establishing
required courses of study for specific grades, and defines various
terms for purposes of those provisions, including the term "goal."
 
   Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and
secondary schools in this state, and authorizes school districts and
other local educational agencies to provide instruction to pupils in
kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law establishes
a course of study for pupils in these grades. 
   This bill would  make a nonsubstantive change to the
definition of "goal."   establish the Computer Science
Education Grant Program under the administration of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction. Under the program, eligible
school districts would apply to receive funding under either or both
of the 2 grant programs. One grant program, the Computer Science
Start-Up Courses Grant program, would provide grants to establ 
 ish and maintain computer science courses, and the other grant
program, the Computer Science Educator Training Grant program, would
provide professional development for educators to teach computer
science, either as a stand-alone course or   integrated into
other courses.  
   The bill would authorize any school district in the state to apply
for participation in the program. The bill would specify minimum
criteria to be applied by the Superintendent in evaluating applicant
school districts for possible participation in the program, and
authorize the Superintendent to convene an advisory group of computer
science experts to discuss and refine these criteria, as specified.
 
   The bill would establish the Computer Science Education Grant
Matching Account in the State Treasury under the administration of
the Superintendent. The bill would authorize the Superintendent to
receive, and deposit into the account, matching funds received from
school districts participating in the programs established under the
bill, and any gifts, grants, or donations received for purposes of
the bill from the federal government or private persons or entities.
The bill would express the intent of the Legislature that no moneys
from the state General Fund be used to fund the grant program
established by the bill. The bill would continuously appropriate the
funds deposited in the account to the Superintendent for purposes of
the bill, provided that the Superintendent certifies, in writing, to
the Director of Finance that there are sufficient funds in the
account to implement the bill.  
   The bill would require the Superintendent to submit a report,
containing specified data about the grant program, to the Governor
and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2019. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation:  no   yes
 . Fiscal committee:  no   yes  .
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section
52975) is added to Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the  
Education Code   , to read:  
      CHAPTER 13.5.  COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM



      Article 1.  General Provisions


   52975.  (a) The Superintendent shall establish a public-private
computer science education grant program through which an eligible
school district may receive funding to establish and maintain
computer science courses and provide professional development for
educators to teach computer science, either as a stand-alone course
or integrated into other courses. Any school district may apply for
participation in this grant program. The grant program shall consist
of two parts, the Computer Science Start-Up Courses Grant program and
the Computer Science Educator Training Grant program, and school
districts may apply for participation in either or both of those two
programs.
   (b) The Superintendent shall provide notice of this program to all
school districts throughout the state, and encourage them to apply
for participation in this grant program.
   (c) The Superintendent shall award grants to school districts
under this chapter to applicants he or she deems to be eligible. The
Superintendent shall not award any grant under this chapter unless
the Superintendent determines that there are sufficient moneys in the
Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account established under
Article 3 (commencing with Section 52978) to fund that grant. In
order to be deemed eligible for the grant program, a school district,
at a minimum, shall meet all of the following criteria:
   (1) Demonstrate engaged and committed leadership in support of
introducing pupils who would not otherwise have these opportunities
to computer science.
   (2) Demonstrate a plan to engage these pupils with the subject
matter of computer science.
   (3) Demonstrate that school district staff are appropriately
trained to carry out the plan.
   (4) Demonstrate capacity to maximize the use of grant resources by
addressing the availability of appropriate physical space and
technology, projected enrollment, and other specific requirements set
forth by the Superintendent.
   (5) Demonstrate a history of successful partnerships within the
community and partner support for computer science. Partnership
support may include, but is not necessarily limited to, supplying
materials or technology, instruction support, internships,
mentorships, and apprenticeships.
   (6) Demonstrate the capacity to continue in the school years
succeeding the initial grant year.
   (d) The Superintendent may convene an advisory group of computer
science experts to discuss and refine the eligibility criteria listed
in subdivision (c). For purposes of this subdivision, the
Superintendent may use the same group of computer science experts
selected pursuant to Section 60605.4.

      Article 2.  Computer Science Start-Up Courses Grant and
Computer Science Educator Training Grant Programs


   52976.  The Computer Science Start-up Courses Grant program is
intended to support innovative ways to introduce pupils who would not
otherwise have those opportunities to computer science and inspire
them to enter computer science careers.
   52977.  The Computer Science Educator Training Grant program is
intended to support professional development for educators to acquire
the knowledge and skills necessary to teach computer science, either
as a stand-alone course or integrated into other courses. The
Superintendent shall award training grants to eligible educators
employed by applicant school districts. A grant recipient under this
section shall demonstrate a plan for professional development for
educators to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to teach
computer science, either as a stand-alone course or integrated into
other courses. Grant funds awarded under this section shall be
allocated on a one-time basis, and may be used to fund professional
development and training related to computer science education.

      Article 3.  Funding and Reporting


   52978.  (a) The Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account
is established in the State Treasury under the administration of the
Superintendent. This account shall be used solely and exclusively for
the program created in this chapter. The purpose of the account is
to provide matching funds for the Computer Science Start-Up Courses
Grant and the Computer Science Educator Training Grant programs
established under Article 2 (commencing with Section 52976). Grants
under this chapter, and related administrative costs, shall be funded
by a combination of funds from the account and matching funds
provided by a participating school district. It is the intent of the
Legislature that no moneys from the state General Fund be used to
fund the grant program established by this chapter.
   (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the Superintendent is
authorized to receive, and deposit into the account, matching funds
received from school districts participating in the programs
established under this chapter and any gifts, grants, or donations
received for purposes of this chapter from the federal government or
private persons or entities. Expenditures from the account, with
respect to a particular grant, shall not exceed the amount of
corresponding matching funds.
   52978.5.  Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code,
the funds deposited in the Computer Science Education Grant Matching
Account shall be continuously appropriated to the Superintendent for
purposes of funding the grants established under this chapter and
covering related administrative costs. This section shall not become
operative unless and until the Superintendent certifies, in writing,
to the Director of Finance that there are sufficient funds in the
account to implement this chapter.
   52979.  (a) The Superintendent shall report to the Governor and
the Legislature on the programs established under this chapter. This
report shall be submitted on or before January 1, 2019, in compliance
with Section 9795 of the Government Code. The report shall include,
but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following data:
   (1) The number of applicants annually.
   (2) The number of participants annually.
   (3) The rate of compliance with academic and employment
requirements.
   (4) A list of participating postsecondary educational
institutions.
   (5) A needs assessment for program growth based on the eligible
pool of applicants.
   (6) An assessment of the success rates for each participating
school district.
   (7) The amount of grant funds awarded each fiscal year, classified
by school district.
   (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2020, as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.
 
  SECTION 1.    Section 51020 of the Education Code
is amended to read:
   51020.  "Goal" means a statement of broad direction or intent that
is general and timeless and is not concerned with a particular
achievement within a specified time period.