Bill Text: NJ AR170 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognizes week of December 8 through 14, 2014 as "Computer Science Education Week."
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)
Status: (Passed) 2014-11-13 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR170 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR170-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Coughlin, Wisniewski, Lagana, Assemblywomen Spencer, Quijano, Tucker and Assemblyman Caputo
SYNOPSIS
Recognizes week of December 8 through 14, 2014 as "Computer Science Education Week."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution recognizing the week of December 8 through 14, 2014 as "Computer Science Education Week."
Whereas, Computing technology is an integral part of our culture and daily life in almost every occupation and is transforming industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation in all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in established economic sectors; and
Whereas, Computer science education develops students' computational and critical thinking skills, and encompasses the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, hardware and software designs, applications, and overall impact on society; and
Whereas, There are seven big ideas at the core of computer science--creativity, abstraction, data, algorithms, programming, Internet, and impact--that are applicable to many academic disciplines; and
Whereas, The outlook for computer science occupations is bright as more than half of all new science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs in the United States are in computer science occupations; and
Whereas, The College Board states that studying Advanced Placement computer science in high school can set students on a path to 130 different career areas and 48 college majors; and
Whereas, The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 150,000 new job openings annually in computer science occupations with these jobs typically paying 75 percent more than the national median average salary; and
Whereas, The number of computer science jobs is rising three times faster than the number of computer science graduates, and experts predict there will be one million unfulfilled computer science jobs in the United States by 2020; and
Whereas, Despite the proliferation of computer science occupations in our economy, roughly 90 percent of schools do not offer computer science courses and admission policies for most colleges and universities do not include computer science coursework for meeting the mathematic or science entrance requirements; and
Whereas, Of the 3.4 million Advanced Placement exams given in 2011, only about 20,000 of those were in computer science, accounting for two percent of the science exams and one percent of all Advanced Placement exams; and
Whereas, In the 2012-2013 school year, only nine states allowed computer science courses to count towards secondary school graduation requirements, chilling student interest in computer science courses; and
Whereas, "Computer Science Education Week" highlights the crucial role that computer science plays in transforming our society and how computer science enables innovation and creates economic opportunities; and
Whereas, Participating in an Hour of Code during "Computer Science Education Week," during which students are introduced to computer science through a game-like, self-directed tutorial, can serve to demystify the field of computer science and encourage more students to take up further studies of computer science; and
Whereas, The week of December 8 through 14, 2014 is recognized as "Computer Science Education Week" in honor of the birthday of Grace Murray Hopper, one of the first women involved in the field of computer science; and
Whereas, Exposing middle and high school students to computer science education in New Jersey would give them a deeper knowledge of the fundamentals of computing, yielding critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout their lives in numerous fields; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House recognizes the week of December 8 through 14, 2014 as "Computer Science Education Week" in the State of New Jersey.
2. This House further urges the public officials and citizens of this State to observe "Computer Science Education Week" with appropriate activities and programs.
STATEMENT
This resolution recognizes the week of December 8 through 14, 2014 as "Computer Science Education Week" in the State of New Jersey.
"Computer Science Education Week" highlights the crucial role that computer science plays in transforming our society and how computer science enables innovation and creates economic opportunities. The week of December 8 through 14, 2014 is recognized as "Computer Science Education Week" in honor of the birthday of Grace Murray Hopper, one of the first women involved in the field of computer science. One of the activities emphasized during "Computer Science Education Week" is the Hour of Code, which introduces students to computer science through a game-like, self-directed tutorial. Participating in "Computer Science Education Week" and the Hour of Code can serve to demystify the field of computer science and encourage more students to take up further studies of computer science.
Computing technology is an integral part of culture and daily life in just about every occupation and is transforming industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation in all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in established economic sectors. The outlook for computer science occupations is bright. More than half of all new science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs in the United States are in computer science occupations. Coursework in Advanced Placement computer science can open a path to 130 different career areas and 48 college majors. The number of computer science jobs is rising three times faster than the number of computer science graduates, with 150,000 new job openings annually in computer science occupations that typically pay 75 percent more than the national median average salary.
Despite the proliferation of computer science occupations in our economy, roughly 90 percent of schools do not offer computer science courses and only nine states allowed computer science courses to count towards secondary school graduation requirements in the 2012-2013 school year. Further exposure to computer science education by middle and high school students in New Jersey would benefit the State's economy and open up new career options for students.
This House recognizes the week of December 8 through 14, 2014 as "Computer Science Education Week" in the State of New Jersey and urges the public officials and citizens of this State to observe "Computer Science Education Week" with appropriate activities and programs.
