BILL NUMBER: AB 1258 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 6, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chau
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
An act to add and repeal Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section
52975) of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
relating to elementary and secondary education, and making
an appropriation therefor. education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1258, as amended, Chau. Elementary and secondary education:
Computer Science Education Grant Pilot Program.
Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and
secondary schools in this state, and authorizes school districts and
other local educational agencies to provide instruction to pupils in
kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law establishes
a course of study for pupils in these grades.
This bill would establish the Computer Science Education Grant
Pilot Program under the administration of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction. Under the program, eligible school districts
could apply to receive one-year grants under either or both of the 2
competitive grant pilot programs. One pilot program, the Computer
Science Start-Up Courses Grant Pilot Program, would provide grants to
establish and maintain computer science courses in underserved
areas, areas and among pupils from groups
historically underrepresented in the field of computer science,
and the other grant pilot program, the Computer Science Educator
Training Grant Pilot Program, would provide professional development
for educators to teach computer science, either as a stand-alone
course or as integrated into other courses.
The bill would authorize any school district in the state to apply
for participation in the pilot programs. The bill would specify
minimum criteria to be applied by the Superintendent in evaluating
applicant school districts for possible participation in the pilot
programs, and authorize the Superintendent to convene an advisory
group of computer science experts to discuss and refine these
criteria, as specified.
The bill would establish the Computer Science Education Grant
Matching Account in the State Treasury. The bill would authorize the
State Treasury to receive, and deposit into the account, any gifts,
grants, or donations received for purposes of the bill from the
federal government or private persons or entities. The bill
would require school districts receiving grants under the bill to
provide local matching resources, which may include in-kind
donations, constituting an amount equaling the amount that would be
allocated to the school district from the Computer Science Education
Grant Matching Account. The bill would express the intent of
the Legislature that no moneys from the state General Fund be used to
fund the grant pilot programs established by the bill.
The bill would continuously appropriate
provide that the funds deposited in the account would be
available, upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act or in another
statute, to the Superintendent for purposes of the bill,
provided that the Superintendent certifies, in writing, to the
Director of Finance that there are sufficient funds , as
defined, in the account to implement the bill. The bill would
limit expenditures from the account to cover administrative costs to
no more than 10% 5% of the allocations
made from the account in any fiscal year. The bill would authorize
the Superintendent to refund to the donor all or a portion of any
gift, grant, or donation made to the account by that donor if the
funds received from that donor have not been encumbered because there
are surplus funds in the account or because this provision has not
become operative.
The bill would require the Superintendent to submit an annual
report, containing specified data about the grant program, to the
Governor and the Legislature on or before January 10, 2018, and on or
before January 10 in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The provisions of the bill would become inoperative on July 1,
2021, and would be repealed as of January 1, 2022.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes no
. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section 52975) is added
to Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:
CHAPTER 13.5. COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION GRANT PILOT PROGRAM
Article 1. General Provisions
52975. (a) The Superintendent shall establish a public-private
computer science education grant pilot program through which a
participating school district may receive funding to establish and
maintain computer science courses and provide professional
development for educators to teach computer science, either as a
stand-alone course or as integrated into other courses. Any school
district may apply for participation in this grant pilot program. The
grant pilot program shall consist of two parts, the Computer Science
Start-Up Courses Grant Pilot Program and the Computer Science
Educator Training Grant Pilot Program, and school districts may apply
for participation in either or both of those two pilot programs.
(b) The Superintendent shall provide notice of this pilot program
to all school districts throughout the state, and encourage them to
apply for participation in this grant pilot program.
(c) The Superintendent shall award one-year grants to school
districts under this chapter to applicants he or she deems to be
eligible. A school district that receives a grant under this chapter
may apply for a grant in a subsequent year, but grants under this
chapter shall not be automatically renewed for an additional year.
The Superintendent shall not award any grant under this chapter
unless the Superintendent determines that there are sufficient moneys
in the Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account established
under Article 3 (commencing with Section 52978) to fund that grant.
In order to be deemed eligible for the grant pilot program, a school
district, at a minimum, shall meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Demonstrate engaged and committed leadership in support of
introducing pupils who would not otherwise have these opportunities
to computer science.
(2) Demonstrate a plan to engage these pupils with the subject
matter of computer science.
(3) Demonstrate that school district staff are appropriately
trained to carry out the plan.
(4) Demonstrate the capacity to maximize the use of grant
resources by addressing the availability of appropriate physical
space and technology, projected enrollment, and other specific
requirements set forth by the Superintendent.
(5) Demonstrate a history of successful partnerships within the
community and partner support for computer science. Partnership
support may include, but is not necessarily limited to, supplying
materials or technology, instruction support, internships,
mentorships, and apprenticeships.
(6) Demonstrate the capacity to continue in the school years
succeeding the initial grant year.
(d) The Superintendent may convene an advisory group of computer
science experts to discuss and refine the eligibility criteria listed
in subdivision (c). For purposes of this subdivision, the
Superintendent may use the same group of computer science experts
selected pursuant to Section 60605.4.
52975.5. This chapter shall become inoperative on July 1, 2021,
and, as of January 1, 2022, is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2022, deletes
or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is
repealed.
Article 2. Computer Science Start-Up Courses Grant and
Computer Science Educator Training Grant Pilot Programs
52976. (a) The Computer Science Start-up Courses Grant Pilot
Program is a competitive grant program that is intended to support
innovative ways to introduce pupils in underserved areas and
pupils from groups historically underrepresented in the field of
computer science who would not otherwise have those
opportunities to computer science and inspire them to enter computer
science careers.
(b) In awarding grants under this section, the Superintendent
shall give priority to applicant school districts with higher
percentages of unduplicated pupils, as defined in Section 42238.02,
and, as much as feasible, shall award grants to school districts that
collectively represent the geographic and socioeconomic diversity of
this state. An applicant for a grant under this section shall submit
a specific plan for an introductory computer science course designed
to be of maximum value in meeting the particular needs of the pupils
of that school district. district, including
pupils from groups historically underrepresented in the field of
computer science.
(c) Grant funds awarded under this section may be used for
one-time purposes associated with the costs of establishing or
expanding computer science courses, including teacher recruitment,
professional development, instructional materials, laboratory
supplies and equipment, and facilities remodeling.
(d) The grant application for this program shall be on a form
developed by the Superintendent and shall include, at a minimum, an
itemized budget for the one-time use of the grant funds, an
identification of local matching resources constituting an amount
equaling the amount that would be allocated to the school district
from the Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account
established by Section 52978, and an agreement by the grant recipient
to provide the Superintendent the data needed to complete the report
required by Section 52979.
52977. (a) The Computer Science Educator Training Grant Pilot
Program is intended to support professional development for educators
to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to teach computer
science, either as a stand-alone course or as integrated into other
courses. The Superintendent shall award training grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible school
districts for the support of educators employed by applicant
school districts.
(b) In awarding grants under this section, the Superintendent
shall give priority to applicant school districts with higher
percentages of unduplicated pupils, as defined in Section 42238.02,
and, as much as feasible, shall award grants to school districts that
collectively represent the geographic and socioeconomic diversity of
this state. An applicant for a grant under this section shall submit
a specific plan plan, developed in
consultation with teachers employed by the applicant school district,
for professional development for educators employed by that
school district to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to
teach computer science to that school district's pupils, either as a
stand-alone course or as integrated into other courses. Grant funds
awarded under this section shall be allocated to fund professional
development related to computer science education for the
participating educators.
(c) The grant application for this program shall be on a form
developed by the Superintendent and shall include, at a minimum, an
itemized budget for the one-time use of the grant funds, an
identification of local matching resources constituting an amount
equaling the amount that would be allocated to the school district
from the Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account
established by Section 52978, and an agreement by the grant recipient
to provide the Superintendent the data needed to complete the report
required by Section 52979.
Article 3. Funding and Reporting
52978. (a) The Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account
is established in the State Treasury. This account shall be used
solely and exclusively for the pilot programs created in this
chapter. The purpose of the account is to provide matching funds for
the Computer Science Start-Up Courses Grant and the Computer Science
Educator Training Grant pilot programs established under Article 2
(commencing with Section 52976). Grants under this chapter, and
related administrative costs, shall be funded by a combination of
funds from the account and matching funds provided by a participating
school district. A school district that receives a grant under
this chapter shall provide local matching resources, which
may include in-kind donations, constituting an amount equaling the
amount that would be allocated to the school district from the
Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account. It is the
intent of the Legislature that no moneys from the state General Fund
be used to fund the grant pilot program
programs established by this chapter.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Treasury is
authorized to receive, and deposit into the account, any gifts,
grants, or donations received for purposes of this chapter from the
federal government or private persons or entities. Expenditures from
the account, with respect to a particular grant, shall not exceed the
amount of corresponding matching funds.
52978.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the
Government Code, the The funds deposited in the
Computer Science Education Grant Matching Account shall be
continuously appropriated available, upon
appropriation in the annual Budget Act or in another statute,
to the Superintendent for purposes of funding the grants established
under this chapter, covering related costs, and returning
unencumbered funds to donors pursuant to subdivision (b). The
administrative costs of the implementation of this chapter shall be
kept to a minimum, and in no event shall expenditures from the
account to cover administrative costs exceed 10
5 percent of the allocations made from the account in any
fiscal year.
(b) The Superintendent is authorized to refund to the donor all or
a portion of any gift, grant, or donation made to the account by
that donor if the funds received from the donor have not been
encumbered because the Superintendent has determined that there are
surplus funds in the account or because, pursuant to subdivision (c),
this section has not become operative.
(c) This section shall not become operative unless and until the
Superintendent certifies, in writing, to the Director of Finance that
there are sufficient funds in the account to implement this chapter.
For purposes of this section, "sufficient funds" is defined as
an amount sufficient to support at least two grants in one of the
programs established by this chapter.
52979. The Superintendent shall submit an annual report to the
Governor and the Legislature on the programs established under this
chapter. This report shall be submitted on or before January 10,
2018, and on or before January 10 in 2019, 2020, and 2021, in
compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. The report shall
include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following
data:
(a) The number of applicants annually.
(b) The number of participants annually.
(c) The rate of compliance with academic and employment
requirements. increase in the number of courses
offered and teachers trained in computer science as a result of
the grants made under this chapter.
(d) An assessment of the success rates for each participating
school district.
(d) (1) For the Computer Science Start-up Courses Grant Pilot
Program, the increase in the number of pupils, including unduplicated
pupils as defined pursuant to Section 42238.02 and pupils from
groups historically underrepresented in the field of computer
science, who have taken a computer science course, and to the extent
available, any increase in the number of pupils who enroll or intend
to enroll in computer science programs at postsecondary educational
institutions.
(2) For the Computer Science Educator Training Grant Pilot
Program, the increase in the number of pupils, including unduplicated
pupils as defined pursuant to Section 42238.02 and pupils from
groups historically underrepresented in the field of computer
science, who have taken a course with an educator trained as a result
of this program.
(e) The amount of grant funds awarded each fiscal year, classified
by school district.