House Bill 718

AN ACT TO REQUIRE COURSES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL; TO PROVIDE FOR DEFINITIONS OF TERMS; TO PROVIDE FOR A PHASE-IN OF SUCH REQUIREMENT IN ALL SCHOOLS OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS BEGINNING WITH THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR, WITH FULL STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION IN THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR; TO PROVIDE FOR COURSES THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI VIRTUAL SCHOOL PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE FOR GRANTS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS PROVIDING INSTRUCTION IN COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSES AND CONTENT, SUBJECT TO THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE; TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL REPORTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The Mississippi Legislature finds that:

(a) Education in computer science is a critical need for the students of Mississippi for the twenty-first century;

(b) Less than five-tenths percent (0.5%) of high school graduates take a computer science course;

(d) The logical thinking skills taught by computer science are now very valuable in many noncomputer science jobs, as technology has become embedded in most professions.

SECTION 2. As used in this act, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed in this section, unless context of use clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Computer science" means the study of computers, algorithmic processes, coding, and logical thinking, including computer principles, their hardware and software designs, their implementation and their impact on society.

(b) "Computer science courses and content" means high school courses that teach computer science as stand-alone implementations and middle school courses that provide instruction in computer science in stand-alone implementations or embedded in other subjects and focus on how to create and understand technology, rather than simply using technology.

(i) Clarify the conceptual foundations of computer science;

(ii) Teach research based practices, including hands-on and inquiry based learning; and

(iii) Are intended for teachers with or without prior exposure to computer science.

(d) "High-quality professional learning providers" means institutions of higher education in this state, local school districts, nonprofit organizations, or private entities that have successfully designed, implemented and scaled high-quality professional learning for teachers and are approved or recommended by the State Board of Education in coordination with the Department of Education.

(e) "Offer" means providing a course taught by a computer science teacher:

(i) Who is onsite at the physical location of the school; or

(ii) Who is not onsite at the physical location of the school but conducts the course through virtual means with a proctor onsite at the physical location of the school.

SECTION 3. (1) Beginning in the 2020-2021 school year:

(a) Each local school district shall provide that at least one (1) high school in its school system offers a course in computer science;

(b) Each local school district shall provide that all middle schools in its school system offer instruction in exploratory computer science;

(d) Each charter school that serves middle school students shall offer instruction in exploratory computer science;

(e) Each local school district may provide that all elementary schools in its school system offer instruction in exploratory computer science; and

(f) Each charter school that serves elementary school students may offer instruction in exploratory computer science.

(2) Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, each local school district shall provide that at least fifty percent (50%) of the high schools in its school system offer a course in computer science.

(3) Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, each local school district shall provide that all high schools in its school system offer a course in computer science.

SECTION 4. The State Department of Education shall ensure that the Mississippi Virtual School operated pursuant to Code Section 37-161-3 has sufficient capacity to enable schools to utilize computer science courses to meet the needs of such schools as a result of this act.

SECTION 5. (1) Subject to appropriations made by the Legislature, the State Department of Education shall provide grants to eligible entities to deliver professional development programs for teachers providing instruction in computer science courses and content.

(2) Eligible entities shall include local school districts, consortia of local school districts, charter schools and high-quality professional learning providers working in partnership with local school districts.

(3) Criteria for grant awards to eligible entities pursuant to this subsection shall include:

(a) The number of teachers in a local school district that require training and the number of teachers in a local school district that have already received training; and

(b) The willingness of local school districts to make available, teachers who have received training in computer science courses and content to provide computer science instruction in another local school district or systems.

(4) The State Department of Education shall submit a report on December 1 of each year to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Education. The report shall include the number of teachers trained, the number of schools offering training, the number of students served and the demographics of such students, and a list of the eligible entities that provided the training.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.