Bill Text: CA AB2072 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: High school diplomas: State Seal of STEM.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [AB2072 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2072-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2072	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 27, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 18, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chang
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Brough, Chau, and Dodd)
   (Coauthor: Senator Runner)

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2016

   An act to add  and repeal  Article 7 (commencing with
Section 51470)  to  of  Chapter 3 of Part
28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to high
school diplomas.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2072, as amended, Chang. High school diplomas: State Seal of
STEM.
   Existing law establishes the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma for
the purpose of recognizing pupils who have mastered the high school
curriculum. Existing law also establishes the State Seal of
Biliteracy to recognize high school graduates who have attained a
high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or
more languages in addition to English.
   This bill would establish a State Seal of STEM to recognize high
school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The bill
would establish criteria for the receipt of the State Seal of STEM,
would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to prepare and
deliver to participating school districts an appropriate insignia to
be affixed to pupil diplomas or transcripts, and would require
participating school districts to maintain appropriate records and
affix the appropriate insignia to diplomas or transcripts of
recipient pupils.  The bill would not become operative until
after data from the statewide administration of specified state
science assessments are available. The bill's provisions would be
repealed on January 1, 2025. 
   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 51470) is added to
Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:

      Article 7.  State Seal of STEM


   51470.  The State Seal of STEM is established to recognize high
school graduates who have attained  a high level of 
proficiency in fields of study within the subjects of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The State Seal of
STEM shall be awarded by the Superintendent. School district
participation in this program is voluntary.
   51471.  The purposes of the State Seal of STEM are as follows:
   (a) To encourage pupils to study science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics.
   (b) To certify  high  achievement within the STEM
fields.
   (c) To provide pupils with a tool to demonstrate STEM competency
to employers.
   (d) To provide universities with a method to recognize and give
academic credit to applicants seeking admission.
   (e) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.
   (f) To engage pupils in STEM learning at an early age.
   (g) To prepare pupils for a job market increasingly in need of
individuals with STEM skills.
   51472.  The State Seal of STEM certifies  attainment of a
high level of proficiency by   that  a graduating
high school pupil  has attained proficiency  in STEM and
 certifies that the graduate  meets all of the
following criteria:
   (a) Attained a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for STEM
courses taken in high school. 
   (b) Successfully completed four year-long courses, or the
equivalent, in mathematics and four year-long courses, or the
equivalent, in science while enrolled in high school. The requirement
for completion of up to one of the year-long courses in mathematics
may be satisfied by completion of a course or courses in computer
science.  
   (b) 
    (c)  Has one of the following:
   (1) A score of 3 or higher on an advanced placement examination in
science.
   (2) A score of 600 or higher on an SAT subject test in science.
   (3) A score of 4 or higher on an international baccalaureate
examination in science.
   (4) A grade of B or higher in a college-level science course taken
through concurrent enrollment. 
   (5) A score indicating that the pupil has met or exceeded
standards on a state-standards-aligned assessment in mathematics.
 
   (c) 
    (d)  Has one of the following:
   (1) A score of 3 or higher on an advanced placement examination in
mathematics.
   (2) A score of 600 or higher on an SAT subject test in
mathematics.
   (3) A score of 4 or higher on an international baccalaureate
examination in mathematics.
   (4) A grade of B or higher in a college level mathematics course
taken through concurrent enrollment. 
   (d) Has one or more of the following:  
   (1) An extracurricular activity relating to STEM, including, but
not limited to, any of the following:  
   (A) Active participation in a club or organization that meets
regularly and either participates in or organizes events relating to
the STEM fields.  
   (B) Participation in STEM based competitions, such as robotics,
coding, or engineering.  
   (C) Internships with organizations or employers who work in the
STEM fields such as the health sciences, laboratories, or engineering
firms.  
   (D) Participation in the research of a STEM topic either done
independently or in coordination with a STEM professional such as a
university professor or biotech researcher.  
   (E) Participation in a STEM-related career pathway for at least
two years, which may include, but is not limited to, engineering,
health, energy, or information technology.  
   (2) A grade of B or higher in a computer, technology, or
engineering course taken either at the enrolled high school or
through concurrent enrollment at a California community college.
 
   (3) A score of 3 or higher on the advanced placement computer
science examination.  
   (5) A score indicating that the pupil has met or exceeded
standards on a state-standards-aligned assessment in mathematics.

   51473.  The Superintendent shall do both of the following:
   (a) Prepare and deliver to participating school districts an
appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript of
the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a State Seal of
STEM by the Superintendent.
   (b) Provide other information it deems necessary for school
districts to successfully participate in the program.
   51474.  A school district that participates in the program under
this article shall do both of the following:
   (a) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who
have earned a State Seal of STEM.
   (b) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript of
each pupil who earns a State Seal of STEM.
   51475.  No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive a State Seal
of STEM. 
   51476.  This chapter shall not become operative until after data
from the statewide administration of state science assessments
aligned to the California Next Generation Science Standards are
available. Data from a field test of a state science assessment does
not satisfy this section.  
   51477.  This chapter shall become inoperative on July 31, 2024,
and, as of January 1, 2025, is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2025, deletes
or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is
repealed.