Bill Text: CA AB1530 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: Model curricula: computer science.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-08-14 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB1530 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB1530-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1530	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 17, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 28, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 28, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chau
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Hagman   and Olsen   ) 

                        JANUARY 17, 2014

   An act to add and repeal Article 7 (commencing with Section 51300)
of Chapter 2 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education
Code, relating to school curriculum.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1530, as amended, Chau. Model curricula: computer science.
   Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to
12, inclusive, to include  instruction  in various areas of
study, including, but not limited to, English, mathematics, and
social sciences. Existing law requires the State Department of
Education to adopt model curricula in certain areas of instruction,
including, among others, driver education and training, gang violence
suppression, and substance abuse prevention.
   This bill would  encourage   require 
the Superintendent of Public Instruction to  identify,
develop, or, as needed, revise   consider identifying,
developing, or, as needed, revising  new or existing model
curricula on computer science, and to submit, on or before July 1,
2017, the model curricula to the State Board of Education for
adoption. The bill, in addition to funds that may be appropriated by
the Legislature for purposes of implementing the provisions of the
bill, would authorize the Superintendent to seek out alternative
nonstate funding sources to defray the cost of identifying,
developing, or revising the model curricula. The bill would make
these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2018, and would repeal them
on January 1, 2019.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Article 7 (commencing with Section 51300) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:

      Article 7.  Model Curricula for Computer Science


   51300.  It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the
establishment of programs of instruction in computer science, with
instruction beginning as early as feasible for each school district.
   51301.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) Computer science is an established discipline at the
collegiate and postgraduate levels, but the integration of computer
science concepts into kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive,
 curriculum   curricula  has not kept pace
in the United States.
   (b) Computer science education is not just about access to
computers or about preparing pupils to be passive users of
technology, it is about preparing pupils to be innovative creators of
new technologies.
   (c) Our educational system should prepare our pupils in
kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, with the fundamental
computer science knowledge, skills, insights, and perspectives they
need for future success and for a world in which computing is
everywhere. While computer usage in classrooms is increasing,
knowledge and familiarity about computing is not keeping pace.
   (d) The goal of computer science curricula in kindergarten and
grades 1 to 6, inclusive, should be to introduce the fundamental
concepts of computer science, including instruction on computational
thinking, algorithmic processes and principles, hardware and software
design, computer applications, and the impact of computers on
society, and to increase the knowledge of computer science for all
pupils, especially those pupils who are members of underrepresented
groups.
   (e) The National Science Foundation and nonprofit organizations
publish and maintain comprehensive computer science curricula for use
in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, that are free of
charge to all persons. These curricula promote an introduction to,
and an understanding of, the fundamental concepts of computer
programming and coding.
   51302.  The Superintendent  is encouraged to identify,
develop, or, as needed, revise   shall consider
identifying, developing, or, as needed, revising  new or
existing model curricula on computer science, and to submit, on or
before July 1, 2017, the model curricula to the state board for
adoption. Upon adoption, the Superintendent shall make the model
curricula available on the department's Internet Web site.
   51303.  In addition to any funds that may be appropriated by the
Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for purposes
of implementing this article, the Superintendent may seek out, apply
for, and accept nonstate funding sources to defray the cost of
identifying, developing, or revising the model curricula pursuant to
this article, including, but not limited to, federal funds, grant
programs, and private funds.
   51304.  This article shall become inoperative on July 1, 2018, and
as of January 1, 2019, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute
that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.