SSB 1047 (LSB 1277XL (11) 87)

SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED GOVERNOR BILL)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to computer science education by providing for education standards by the state board of education, for instructor endorsements and authorizations issued by the board of educational examiners, for establishment of a computer science professional development incentive fund, and for the establishment of a computer science education work group.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph a, Code 2017, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (4)  The rules shall provide for the establishment of high-quality standards for computer science education taught by elementary, middle, and high schools, in accordance with the goal established under section 284.6A, subsection 1, setting a foundation for personal and professional success in a high-technology, knowledge-based Iowa economy. Such rules shall be applicable only to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools receiving moneys from the computer science professional development incentive fund under section 284.6A, or from other funds administered by the department for the same purposes as specified in section 284.6A, subsection 2.
    Sec. 2.  Section 272.2, Code 2017, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  20.  Establish by rule endorsements and authorizations for computer science instruction, including traditional and nontraditional pathways for obtaining such endorsements or authorizations.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  284.6A  Computer science professional development incentive fund —— legislative findings.
   1.  The general assembly finds and declares all of the following:
   a.  That instruction in high-quality computer science for elementary, middle school, and high school students establishes a foundation for personal and professional success in a high-technology, knowledge-based Iowa economy.
   b.  It is the goal of the general assembly that by July 1, 2019, each accredited high school offer at least one high-quality computer science course, each accredited middle school offer instruction in exploratory computer science, and each accredited elementary school offer instruction in the basics of computer science.
   c.  It is the intent of the general assembly to appropriate moneys for purposes of the computer science professional development incentive fund for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018.
   2.  Subject to an appropriation of sufficient funds by the general assembly, the computer science professional development incentive fund is established in the state treasury under the control of the department. The department may disburse moneys contained in the fund for professional development activities or tuition reimbursement as follows:
   a.  A school district or accredited nonpublic school, or a collaborative of one or more school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and area education agencies, may apply to the department, in the manner prescribed by the department, to receive moneys from the fund to provide proven professional development activities for Iowa teachers in the area of computer science education.
   b.  A school district or accredited nonpublic school may apply to the department, in the manner prescribed by the department, to receive moneys from the fund to provide tuition reimbursement for Iowa teachers seeking endorsements or authorizations for computer science under section 272.2, subsection 20.
   3.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the computer science professional development incentive fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
    Sec. 4.  COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION WORK GROUP.
   1.  The director of the department of education shall convene a computer science education work group to identify and recommend measures for incentivizing school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to meet the following goals by the school year beginning July 1, 2019:
   a.  Offer at least one high-quality computer science course in each high school.
   b.  Offer instruction in exploratory computer science in each middle school.
   c.  Offer instruction in the basics of computer science in each elementary school.
   2.  The work group shall also develop recommendations that, at a minimum, address or identify the following:
   a.  How one or more high-quality computer science courses can satisfy high school graduation requirements for mathematics or science.
   b.  How one or more high-quality computer science courses can be integrated into a career and technical education pathway.
   c.  Multiple settings for the delivery of high-quality high school computer science courses, including traditional high school classes, concurrent enrollment classes, and online learning classes that include the opportunity for students to collaborate within a classroom setting.
   d.  Guidelines for creating a kindergarten through grade twelve career pathway in computer science, with an appropriate scope and sequence for high-quality computer science instruction at each such grade level.
   e.  How the computer science professional development incentive fund established under section 284.6A, if enacted by this Act, could be used to meet the goals set forth in subsection 1.
   3.  The membership of the work group shall represent kindergarten through grade twelve school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, higher education, business, labor, and other appropriate stakeholders.
   4.  The work group shall submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, in a report to the governor, the state board of education, and the general assembly by November 1, 2017.
    Sec. 5.  DIRECTIVE TO STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.  The state board of education shall submit a notice of intended action to the administrative rules coordinator and the administrative code editor pursuant to section 17A.4, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, not later than December 13, 2017, for the adoption of rules to implement section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), as enacted in this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the state board of education to adopt computer science education standards, requires the board of educational examiners to establish computer science instructor endorsements and authorizations and alternative pathways to obtain such endorsements and authorizations, establishes a computer science professional development incentive fund in the state treasury, and directs the department of education to convene a computer science education work group.
   The bill directs the state board of education to adopt rules providing for the establishment of high-quality standards for computer science education taught by elementary, middle, and high schools. The rules shall be applicable only to those school districts and schools that receive moneys from the incentive fund or from other funds administered by the department for the same purposes as specified for the incentive fund. The state board must submit notice of intended action as provided in Code section 17A.4(1)(a) by December 13, 2017.
   The board of educational examiners is directed to establish by rule endorsements and authorizations for computer science instruction, including traditional and nontraditional pathways for obtaining such endorsements or authorizations.
   Under the bill, the general assembly finds and declares that instruction in high-quality computer science for elementary, middle school, and high school students establishes a foundation for personal and professional success in a high-technology, knowledge-based Iowa economy. The goal of the general assembly is for each accredited high school to offer at least one high-quality computer science course, each accredited middle school to offer instruction in exploratory computer science, and each accredited elementary school to offer instruction in the basics of computer science.
   It is the intent of the general assembly to appropriate moneys for purposes of the computer science professional development incentive fund for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018. The fund is established by the bill in the state treasury under the control of the department, subject to an appropriation of sufficient funds by the general assembly.
   Moneys from the fund can be disbursed to a school district or accredited nonpublic school, or a collaborative of one or more school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and area education agencies, to provide proven professional development activities for Iowa teachers in the area of computer science education. Moneys from the fund can also be disbursed to a school district or accredited nonpublic school to provide tuition reimbursement for Iowa teachers seeking endorsements or authorizations for computer science. A school district, accredited nonpublic school, or a collaborative, as appropriate, must apply to the department in the manner prescribed by the department in order to receive moneys from the fund. Moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
   The bill requires the director of the department of education to convene a computer science education work group to identify and recommend measures for incentivizing school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to meet, by the school year beginning July 1, 2019, the goals of offering at least one high-quality computer science course in each high school, offering instruction in exploratory computer science in each middle school, and offering instruction in the basics of computer science in each elementary school.
   The work group must also develop recommendations that, at a minimum, address or identify how one or more high-quality computer science courses can satisfy high school graduation requirements for mathematics or science; how one or more high-quality computer science courses can be integrated into a career and technical education pathway; multiple settings for the delivery of high-quality high school computer science courses, including traditional high school classes, concurrent enrollment classes, and online learning classes that include the opportunity for students to collaborate within a classroom setting; guidelines for creating a kindergarten through grade 12 career pathway in computer science, with an appropriate scope and sequence for high-quality computer science instruction at each such grade level; and how the computer science professional development incentive fund could be used to meet the computer science instruction goals.
   The work group’s membership must represent kindergarten through grade 12 school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, higher education, business, labor, and other appropriate stakeholders. The work group must submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, in a report to the governor, the state board of education, and the general assembly by November 1, 2017.