WEST virginia legislature

2019 first extraordinary session

Introduced

House Bill 164

By Delegate Hornbuckle

[Introduced June 17, 2019; Referred
to the Select Committee on Education A]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-9A-10b, relating to creating a grant program to improve local education agency efforts to train K-12 students to write and develop computer software programs; authorizing grants to qualified educational organizations by the state providing terms of the grant; defining the application process; and providing for legislative rule-making.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 9A. PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORT.

§18-9A-10b. Coding and Computer Science Grant Program.

(a) Definitions. -- When used in this section:

“Department” means the West Virginia Department of Education.

“Educational organization” means a nonprofit entity organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code with a mission of teaching students and workers computer science and coding skills.

(b) Creating a grant program. -- The West Virginia Coding and Computer Science Grant Program is established. The department shall administer the program and is hereby authorized to promulgate legislative rules governing the program. In order to foster the development of computer science and coding skills for students in the state, the department may provide a grant to an eligible educational organization. The department shall pay the grant, up to $10,000, from the fund known as the “Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund” created pursuant to §11B-2-20 of this code.

(c) Eligibility. -- In order to be eligible for a grant under this article, an educational organization must satisfy all of the following conditions:

(1) The educational organization must be a nonprofit entity organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which has a primary mission of educating or advocating for workforce development with a focus on computer science and coding skills;

(2) The educational must certify that the grant funds will be spent to educate or train workers or students in computer science or coding, or connect workers or students with employers with a need for employees with computer science or coding skills;

(3) The educational organization must certify that the training, education, or events connecting employers to students or adults shall take place in West Virginia; and

(3) The educational organization must demonstrate its ability to:

(A) Provide computer coding or computer science skills training and education for students or adults;

(B) Assist students or adults in the preparation of an application for a job that requires computer science or coding skills; or

(C) Connect students or adults to local employers with a need for employees with computer science or coding skills.

(d) Application process. -- An educational organization shall apply, under oath, to the department on forms prescribed by the department that include at least the following:

(1) The name of the educational organization and the names and addresses of the principals and management of the educational organization;

(2) The educational organization’s education plan for the duration of the grant term, including:

(A) The names of instructors;

(B) A timeline and benchmarks for the educational programming; and

(C) The equipment the educational organization expects to use and the location of the educational sessions; and

(3) Any other information necessary for the department to evaluate the application.

(e) Grant awards. -- The department shall review the application, determine whether the applicant satisfies the eligibility requirements, and determine whether to award a grant.

(1) Grant terms- The department may award a “Coding and Computer Science Grant” of $10,000 to an eligible educational organization. The Coding and Computer Science Grant shall be remitted to the educational organization upon notification from the department of the grant award. An educational organization may receive only one Coding and Computer Science Grant per year. Resubmissions of unsuccessful applications are not eligible. A grant recipient may assign an award only upon the prior written consent of the department.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a grant program for qualified educational organizations to teach coding and computer science.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.