Bill Text: NJ A3550 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires school district to report to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-25 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A3550 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A3550-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school district to report to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning computer science in public schools and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Individuals with computing skills are among the most sought-after employees in the United States job market;
b. New Jersey currently has more than 15,000 open computing jobs across all industries;
c. Women and minorities remain underrepresented in computer science fields;
d. Leaving women, the sole or primary wage earner in 40 percent of American families, out of this vital workforce will have drastic effects on New Jersey's economy and competitive advantage;
e. New Jersey is committed to increasing the participation of females and other underrepresented students in computer science fields; and
f. Tracking data specific to the demographic make-up, availability, and content of computer science courses in New Jersey schools will provide insight needed to address gaps in populations that are underrepresented in computer science fields.
2. a. On or before April 30 of each school year, a school district shall issue a report to the Commissioner of Education on the computer science courses offered in the school district during the preceding school year.
b. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) the total number of computer science courses offered in each school in the district, including any advanced placement computer science courses;
(2) the subject matter covered in each computer science course offered;
(3) the total number of computer science teachers at each school in the district, including the number of computer science teachers disaggregated by gender, terminal degree, and instructional certificate endorsement; and
(4) the total number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science courses at each school in the district, including the number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science courses disaggregated by gender, race and ethnicity, special education status, English language learner status, eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program, and grade level.
c. The commissioner shall compile the information reported by school districts pursuant to this section and post the information on the department's website no later than October 1 of each school year.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Tracking data specific to the demographic make-up, availability, and content of computer science courses in New Jersey schools will provide insight needed to address gaps in populations that are underrepresented in computer science fields. This information will help New Jersey in its commitment to increasing the participation of female and other underrepresented students in computer science fields.
This bill will require each school district to issue a report to the Commissioner of Education by April 30 of each school year on the computer science courses offered in the district. The report will include, but not be limited to, (1) the total number of computer science courses offered in each school in the district, including any advanced placement computer science courses; (2) the subject matter covered in each computer science course offered; (3) the total number of computer science teachers in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, terminal degree, and instructional certificate endorsement; and (4) the total number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science courses in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, race and ethnicity, special education status, English language learner status, eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program, and grade level.
This bill also requires the commissioner to compile the information reported by the school districts and post the information on the department's website no later than October 1 of each school year.
