Bill Text: FL S1056 | 2018 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Computer Science Instruction
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-07 - Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 495 [S1056 Detail]
Download: Florida-2018-S1056-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2018 CS for CS for SB 1056 By the Committees on Appropriations; and Education; and Senator Passidomo 576-04118-18 20181056c2 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to computer science instruction; 3 amending s. 1007.2616, F.S.; providing a definition; 4 providing requirements for specified instruction 5 relating to computer science; requiring certain 6 computer science courses to be included in the Course 7 Code Directory and published on the Department of 8 Education’s website by a specified date; requiring the 9 Florida Virtual School to offer certain computer 10 science courses; requiring school districts to provide 11 access to computer science courses offered by the 12 Florida Virtual school or by other means under certain 13 circumstances; providing funds for school districts to 14 provide professional development for classroom 15 teachers; providing Department of Education 16 responsibilities for the distribution of such funds; 17 requiring that high school students be provided 18 opportunities to take certain courses to meet certain 19 graduation requirements; providing funds for bonuses 20 for certain classroom teachers; requiring, rather than 21 authorizing, the State Board of Education to adopt 22 rules; providing an effective date. 23 24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 25 26 Section 1. Section 1007.2616, Florida Statutes, is amended 27 to read: 28 1007.2616 Computer science and technology instruction.— 29 (1) For the purposes of this section, the term “computer 30 science” means the study of computers and algorithmic processes, 31 including their principles, hardware and software designs, 32 applications, and their impact on society, and includes computer 33 coding and computer programming. 34 (2)(a)(1)Public schools shall provide students in grades 35 K-12 opportunities for learning computer science, including, but 36 not limited to, computer coding and computer programming. Such 37 opportunities may include coding instruction in elementary 38 school and middle school and,instruction to develop students’ 39 computer usage and digital literacy skills in middle school, and 40 must include courses in computer science, computer coding, and41computer programmingin middle school and high school, including 42 earning-related industry certifications. Such courses must be 43 integrated into each school district’s middle and high schools, 44 including combination schools in which any of grades 6 through 45 12 are taught. 46 (b) Computer science courses must be identified in the 47 Course Code Directory and published on the Department of 48 Education’s website no later than July 1, 2018. Additional 49 computer science courses may be subsequently identified and 50 posted on the department’s website. 51 (3) The Florida Virtual School shall offer computer science 52 courses identified in the Course Code Directory pursuant to 53 paragraph (2)(b). If a school district does not offer an 54 identified course, the district must provide students access to 55 the course through the Florida Virtual School or through other 56 means. 57 (4)(a) Subject to legislative appropriation, a school 58 district or a consortium of school districts may apply to the 59 department, in a format prescribed by the department, for 60 funding to deliver or facilitate training for classroom teachers 61 to earn an educator certificate in computer science pursuant to 62 s. 1012.56 or an industry certification associated with a course 63 identified in the Course Code Directory pursuant to paragraph 64 (2)(b). Such funding shall only be used to provide training for 65 classroom teachers and to pay fees for examinations that lead to 66 a credential pursuant to this paragraph. 67 (b) Once the department has identified courses in the 68 Course Code Directory pursuant to paragraph (2)(b), the 69 department shall establish a deadline for submitting 70 applications. The department shall award funding to school 71 districts in a manner that allows for an equitable distribution 72 of funding statewide based on student population. 73 (5)(2)Elementary schools and middle schools may establish 74 digital classrooms in which students are provided opportunities 75 to improve digital literacy and competency; to learn digital 76 skills, such as coding, multiple media presentation, and the 77 manipulation of multiple digital graphic images; and to earn 78 digital tool certificates and certifications pursuant to s. 79 1003.4203 and grade-appropriate, technology-related industry 80 certifications. 81 (6)(3)High school students must be providedschools may82provide studentsopportunities to take computer science courses 83 to satisfy high school graduation requirements, including, but 84 not limited to, the following: 85 (a) High school computer science courses of sufficient 86 rigor, as identified by the commissioner, such that one credit 87 in computer science and the earning of related industry 88 certifications constitute the equivalent of up to one credit of 89 the mathematics requirement, with the exception of Algebra I or 90 higher-level mathematics, or up to one credit of the science 91 requirement, with the exception of Biology I or higher-level 92 science, for high school graduation. Computer science courses 93 and technology-related industry certifications that are 94 identified as eligible for meeting mathematics or science 95 requirements for high school graduation shall be included in the 96 Course Code Directory. 97 (b) High school computer technology courses in 3D rapid 98 prototype printing of sufficient rigor, as identified by the 99 commissioner, such that one or more credits in such courses and 100 related industry certifications earned may satisfy up to two 101 credits of mathematics required for high school graduation with 102 the exception of Algebra I. Computer technology courses in 3D 103 rapid prototype printing and related industry certifications 104 that are identified as eligible for meeting mathematics 105 requirements for high school graduation shall be included in the 106 Course Code Directory. 107 (7) Subject to legislative appropriation, a classroom 108 teacher who was evaluated as effective or highly effective 109 pursuant to s. 1012.34 in the previous school year or who is 110 newly hired by the district school board and has not been 111 evaluated pursuant to s. 1012.34 must receive a bonus as 112 follows: 113 (a) If the classroom teacher holds an educator certificate 114 in computer science pursuant to s. 1012.56 or if he or she has 115 passed the computer science subject area examination and holds 116 an adjunct certificate issued by a school district pursuant to 117 s. 1012.57, he or she shall receive a bonus of $1,000 after each 118 year the individual completes teaching a computer science course 119 identified in the Course Code Directory pursuant to paragraph 120 (2)(b) at a public middle, high, or combination school in the 121 state, for up to 3 years. 122 (b) If the classroom teacher holds an industry 123 certification associated with a course identified in the Course 124 Code Directory pursuant to paragraph (2)(b), he or she shall 125 receive a bonus of $500 after each year the individual completes 126 teaching the identified course at a public middle, high, or 127 combination school in the state, for up to 3 years. 128 129 A school district shall report a qualifying classroom teacher to 130 the department by a date and in a format established by the 131 department. An eligible classroom teacher shall receive his or 132 her bonus upon completion of the school year in which he or she 133 taught the course. A teacher may not receive more than one bonus 134 per year under this subsection. 135 (8)(4)The State Board of Education shallmayadopt rules 136 to administer this section. 137 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.