Bill Text: IA SF274 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Enrolled
Bill Title: 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. (Formerly SSB 1047.) Effective 7-1-17.
Sponsorship: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-04-28 - Signed by Governor. S.J. 1135. [SF274 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2017-SF274-Enrolled.html
Senate File 274 - Enrolled
SENATE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB
1047)
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A BILL FOR
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Senate File 274
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. A computer science professional development incentive
fund is established in the state treasury under the control
of the department. The department may accept gifts, grants,
bequests, and other private contributions, as well as state or
federal moneys, for deposit in the fund. If state, federal,
or private moneys deposited in the fund are sufficient, 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. a. 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.
b. The membership of the work group shall also include
four members of the general assembly. The legislative members
shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the work group,
with one member to be appointed by each of the following: the
majority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the
senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
minority leader of the house of representatives.
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.
JACK WHITVER
President of the Senate
LINDA UPMEYER
Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 274, Eighty=seventh General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secretary of the Senate
Approved , 2017
TERRY E. BRANSTAD
Governor
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