House Study Bill 603 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON JORGENSEN) A BILL FOR An Act providing for computer science and computer coding 1 instruction in the minimum state education curriculum and 2 providing for a related computer science advisory council to 3 be convened by the director of the department of education 4 and including applicability provisions. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 5204YC (1) 86 je/sc

H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 256.9, Code 2016, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 67. Convene a computer science advisory 3 council to make recommendations regarding the requirement that 4 each accredited high school offer at least one high-quality 5 computer science course by the school year beginning July 1, 6 2018, pursuant to section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph 7 “k” . The council shall submit its recommendations to the 8 governor and the general assembly by October 1, 2016. The 9 recommendations shall also include but not be limited to the 10 following: 11 a. Standards for one or more high-quality computer science 12 courses, with one or more models for such courses to be 13 developed by the department by July 1, 2017. 14 b. A recommendation as to whether one or more such 15 high-quality computer science courses could be integrated into 16 a career and technical education pathway. 17 c. A recommendation as to how one or more such high-quality 18 computer science courses could satisfy the high school 19 graduation requirement for mathematics. 20 d. Multiple settings for the delivery of high-quality high 21 school computer science courses, including traditional high 22 school classes, concurrent enrollment classes, and online 23 learning classes that include the opportunity for students to 24 collaborate within a classroom setting. 25 e. Guidelines for creating a kindergarten through grade 26 twelve career pathway in computer science, with an appropriate 27 scope and sequence for high-quality computer science 28 instruction, which would include a unit on coding in seventh 29 or eighth grade to be required by the school year beginning on 30 July 1, 2018, pursuant to section 256.11, subsection 4. 31 f. Licensure and professional development requirements to 32 ensure that teachers are prepared for and supported in the 33 delivery of high-quality computer science courses. 34 Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsection 4, Code 2016, is amended 35 -1- LSB 5204YC (1) 86 je/sc 1/ 3

H.F. _____ to read as follows: 1 4. The following shall be taught in grades seven and 2 eight: English-language arts; social studies; mathematics; 3 science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human 4 growth and development; family, consumer, career, and 5 technology education; physical education; music; and visual 6 art. The health curriculum shall include age-appropriate 7 and research-based information regarding the characteristics 8 of sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV and the 9 availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV, and acquired immune 10 deficiency syndrome. The technology education curriculum shall 11 include one unit on computer coding. The state board as part 12 of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions 13 for implementing the program in grades seven and eight. 14 However, this subsection shall not apply to the teaching of 15 family, consumer, career, and technology education in nonpublic 16 schools. For purposes of this section , “age-appropriate” , 17 “HPV” , and “research-based” mean the same as defined in section 18 279.50 . 19 Sec. 3. Section 256.11, subsection 5, Code 2016, is amended 20 by adding the following new paragraph: 21 NEW PARAGRAPH . k. One unit of high-quality computer science 22 education. 23 Sec. 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT. Section 25B.2, subsection 24 3, shall not apply to this Act. 25 Sec. 5. APPLICABILITY. The provisions of this Act amending 26 section 256.11 apply to school years beginning on or after July 27 1, 2018. 28 EXPLANATION 29 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 30 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 31 This bill adds one unit of high-quality computer science 32 education to the minimum educational program to be offered and 33 taught for grades 9 through 12. The bill also provides that 34 the technology education component of the minimum educational 35 -2- LSB 5204YC (1) 86 je/sc 2/ 3

H.F. _____ program to be offered and taught for grades seven and eight 1 shall include one unit on computer coding. These requirements 2 apply to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2018. 3 The bill also requires the director of the department of 4 education to convene a computer science advisory council to 5 make recommendations regarding the requirements. The bill 6 provides for additional recommendations to be made by the 7 council. The council shall submit its recommendations to the 8 governor and the general assembly by October 1, 2016. 9 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 10 section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, 11 subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from 12 complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of 13 the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, 14 political subdivisions are required to comply with any state 15 mandate included in the bill. 16 -3- LSB 5204YC (1) 86 je/sc 3/ 3