113 HR 2982 IH: Computer Science in STEM Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-08-02
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the
Computer Science in STEM Act of
2013
.
2.The Congress finds the following:
(1)Computer science
is transforming industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation
in all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in established economic
sectors.
(2)Computer science
underpins the information technology sector of the United States economy, which
is a significant contributor to the economic output of the United
States.
(3)The Bureau of
Labor Statistics projects that from 2008 through 2018 more than 1,500,000
high-wage computing jobs will be created in the United States economy, making
high-wage computing one of the fastest growing occupational fields.
(4)The breadth of industries requiring
computing professionals is diverse, two-thirds of computing jobs are in sectors
other than information technology, including manufacturing, defense, health
care, finance, and government.
(5)Providing students with computer science
education in elementary and secondary school is critical for student success in
the 21st century and for strengthening the workforce.
(6)Elementary and secondary computer science
education gives students a deeper knowledge of the fundamentals of computing,
yielding critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout their lives
in numerous fields.
(7)Computer science
courses in elementary and secondary schools are fading from the national
landscape at a time when they are most needed. The Computer Science Teachers
Association (CSTA) has found that introductory secondary school computer
science courses have decreased in number by 17 percent since 2005 and the
number of Advanced Placement (AP) computer science courses has decreased by 33
percent.
(8)Significant
disparities in access to computer science education exist for minorities.
Research in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest and one
of the most diverse school districts in the United States, found
college-preparatory computer science courses were commonly missing in schools
with high numbers of Latino and African-American students.
(9)Only 14 States allow computer science
courses to count toward a student’s secondary school graduation requirements,
chilling student interest in computer science courses.
(10)The CSTA has
found that many States do not have a certification or licensure process for
computer science teachers, and where certification processes do exist, such
processes often have no connection to computer science content.
(11)Computer science
education has been encumbered by confusion regarding the related but distinct
concepts of computer science education, technology education, and the use of
technology in education.
(12)Computer science
education courses have often been placed within the vocational education
pathways in schools, creating a focus on applied information technology skills
rather than a focus on developing core computer science knowledge.
(13)With the growing importance of computing in
society, the need for students to understand the fundamentals of computing, and
the significant challenges computer science education faces in elementary and
secondary education, broad support for computer science education is needed to
catalyze reform.
3.Amendment to the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010Section 2(2) of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note) is amended by inserting
, and computer science
after and
mathematics
.
4.State
comprehensive planning grants
(a)The Secretary of
Education shall award grants to State educational agencies to develop
comprehensive plans to strengthen elementary and secondary computer science
education in accordance with this section.
(b)A
comprehensive plan developed under this section shall outline strategies for
achieving the following objectives:
(1)Provide an
engaging and rigorous computer science education intended to ensure students
are prepared for the 21st century.
(2)Assess the State’s
needs for computer science education, particularly for underrepresented
populations.
(3)Ensure access to
computer science courses, particularly at low-performing schools and for
low-income students and students underrepresented in computing.
(4)Ensure that students are exposed to
grade-appropriate computer science concepts in kindergarten through grade 12
and that computer science courses at the secondary level are viewed as part of
the core curriculum students need to be ready for postsecondary education and
careers.
(5)Ensure that
teachers have the appropriate background, skills, and access to resources to
teach computer science.
(c)Contents of
comprehensive plansA State
educational agency that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall develop a
comprehensive plan that meets the objectives described in subsection (b) and
includes the following:
(1)An assessment of
elementary and secondary computer science education in such State.
(2)Proposals to
improve elementary and secondary computer science education in such State
through the development and implementation of—
(A)challenging and
grade-appropriate academic content standards for computer science at elementary
and secondary education levels;
(B)grade-appropriate
assessments of computer science learning;
(C)programs to
increase access to computer science courses for students at low-performing
schools and students underrepresented in computing;
(D)improved computer science teacher
certification or licensure requirements and processes;
(E)professional
development programs for computer science teachers; and
(F)programs for
ensuring that computer science courses at the secondary level are considered an
integral part of the curriculum students need to be well prepared for higher
education and employment.
(d)In
developing a comprehensive plan under this section, a State educational agency
shall collaborate with representatives of institutions of higher education,
with other interested parties, and, where they exist in such State, with State
P–16 or P–20 councils.
(e)The Secretary shall
award each grant under subsection (a) for a period of 2 years.
(f)
(1)The Secretary shall
award grants under subsection (a) proportionally among the State educational
agencies that apply for grant funding under this section based on the number of
low-income children served by the State educational agency compared to the
total number of low-income children served by all of the State educational
agencies that apply for grant funding under this section.
(2)Counting
low-income children
(A)The number of low-income children to be counted for
purposes of this section is the aggregate of—
(i)the
number of children aged 5 to 17, inclusive, in the State from families below
the poverty level, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most
recent satisfactory data;
(ii)the
number of children (determined for either the preceding year or for the second
preceding year, as the Secretary finds appropriate) aged 5 to 17, inclusive, in
the State in institutions for neglected and delinquent children (other than
such institutions operated by the United States); and
(iii)the number of
children aged 5 to 17, inclusive, in the State from families above the poverty
level as determined under paragraph (4)(A) of section 1124(c) of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)(4)).
(B)In making computations under subparagraph
(A), the Secretary shall use the methodology described in paragraphs (3)
through (5) of section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C.
6333(c)).
(3)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), each State educational
agency approved by the Secretary to receive a grant under this section shall
receive a minimum grant of $250,000.
(g)Authorization of
appropriationsThere is
authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary, subject to the
availability of appropriations, to carry out this section.
5.
(a)The Secretary
shall award grants to State educational agencies in accordance with this
section to implement computer science education improvements proposed in
comprehensive plans that meet the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of
section 4.
(b)Each
State educational agency applying for a grant under this section shall—
(1)develop
quantifiable benchmarks for the activities supported under such grant, which
may include benchmarks for increasing—
(A)student knowledge
and competency of grade-appropriate computer science concepts;
(B)the number of
students that take computer science courses;
(C)the diversity of
students who take computer science courses;
(D)the number of
students who plan to pursue postsecondary computer science degrees;
(E)the diversity of
students who plan to pursue postsecondary computer science degrees; and
(F)the number of
teachers who are certified to teach computer science; and
(2)submit such
quantifiable benchmarks to the Secretary for approval.
(c)Grant
funds received under this section shall be used by each State educational
agency for the development and implementation of—
(1)challenging and
grade-appropriate academic content standards for computer science;
(2)grade-appropriate
assessments of computer science learning;
(3)programs to
increase access to computer science courses for students at low-performing
schools and students underrepresented in computing;
(4)improved computer
science teacher certification requirements and processes;
(5)professional
development programs for computer science teachers;
(6)programs for ensuring that computer science
courses at the secondary level are considered an integral part of the
curriculum students need to be well prepared for higher education and
employment;
(7)effective computer
science curricula;
(8)computer science distance learning
programs; and
(9)such other
activities that strengthen computer science education and that such State
educational agency considers appropriate.
(d)A State educational agency may use not more than five
percent of a grant received under this section for administrative
expenses.
(e)In performing the activities required under
subsection (c), each State educational agency shall partner with institutions
of higher education and local educational agencies, and may partner with
nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other State educational
agencies.
(f)
(1)Each State
educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall provide a
non-Federal share, in cash or in-kind, of the funding for the activities
described in subsection (c) of not less than 20 percent of the total cost of
such activities in any fiscal year.
(2)Financial
hardship waiverThe Secretary may reduce or waive the requirement
to provide a non-Federal share under paragraph (1) for a State educational
agency if such State educational agency demonstrates a need for such waiver or
reduction due to extreme financial hardship.
(g)The Secretary shall
award each grant under subsection (a) for a period of five years.
(h)At the end of the 5-year period for a grant, the grant
recipient may apply for an additional grant under this section by submitting an
updated comprehensive plan that meets the requirements of subsections (b) and
(c) of section 4. In considering an application for a subsequent grant under
this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration the reports filed
under subsection (l).
(i)Competitive
basis; priorityThe Secretary shall—
(1)award grants for a
fiscal year on a competitive basis among State educational agencies that meet
the requirements for funding under this section; and
(2)give priority to
State educational agency proposals that include an emphasis on serving
low-performing schools and on increasing participation in computer science by
students underrepresented in computing.
(j)In allocating grant funds received under this section, a
State educational agency shall give priority to proposals that include an
emphasis on serving low-performing schools and on increasing participation in
computer science by students underrepresented in computing.
(k)Funds made available
to carry out this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other
Federal and State funds available to carry out the activities described in this
section.
(l)Each
State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall—
(1)measure the
progress of such State educational agency in achieving the benchmarks developed
under subsection (b)(1);
(2)collect data
relating to student-related benchmarks developed under subsection (b)(1) in a
form that is disaggregated by student race, ethnicity, gender, disability
status, migrant status, English proficiency status, and low-income status,
except that such disaggregation shall not be required when the number of
students in a category is insufficient to yield statistically reliable results
or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an
individual student;
(3)collect such other
performance information as the Secretary may reasonably require for the
national evaluation conducted under section 6;
(4)submit a report to
the Secretary addressing each item in paragraphs (1) through (3) not later than
four years after the date on which the State educational agency receives an
initial grant under this section; and
(5)not later than two
years after the date of the submission of the report required under paragraph
(4), and biennially thereafter until the State educational agency no longer
receives grant funding under this section, submit to the Secretary an update of
such report.
(m)The
Secretary shall provide guidance to State educational agencies regarding
acceptable data sources and methodologies for—
(1)establishing
performance benchmarks; and
(2)measuring progress
by State educational agencies receiving grants under this section.
6.
(a)Not earlier than 4 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall contract with an independent organization for
a comprehensive, scientifically valid, and quantitative evaluation of the
performance and effectiveness of the activities funded by grants received under
this Act in improving the availability and quality of computer science
education, the overall participation rate of students in computer science
courses, and the participation rate of students underrepresented in computing
in computer science courses.
(b)
(1)Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the
evaluation described in subsection (a).
(2)Not later than 2
years after the date on which the Secretary submits the report required under
paragraph (1), and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress an update of such report.
7.Expanding teacher
preparation programs for computer science teachers
(a)Part B of title II of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6661 et seq.) is
amended by inserting at the end the following:
2Model Teacher
Preparation
Program
.
(b)Computer science
model teacher preparation programInsert after the subpart 2
heading the following:
2211.Computer
science model teacher preparation program
(a)The Secretary is authorized to award grants
to institutions of higher education to improve training for elementary school
and secondary school computer science teachers.
(b)The
Secretary shall award a grant under this section to an institution of higher
education that—
(1)has, at
minimum—
(A)a program in
teacher education; and
(B)a program in
computer science or informatics; and
(2)submits an
application at such time, in such form, and containing such information and
assurances as the Secretary may require.
(c)An institution of higher education that receives a grant
under the section shall use the grant funds to carry out not less than one of
the following activities:
(1)Develop courses
for undergraduate students that—
(A)prepare such
students to teach computer science in elementary schools and secondary
schools;
(B)address content
and pedagogy in informatics or computer science education; and
(C)engage the teacher
education department and other relevant departments at the institution of
higher education.
(2)Develop and fund teacher mentoring programs
to support elementary school and secondary school computer science teachers who
are new to the profession.
(d)Each grant awarded by the Secretary under this section
shall be for a period of 5 years.
(e)Not
later than 180 days after the conclusion of the grant period described under
subsection (d), an institution of higher education that receives a grant under
this section shall submit to the Secretary and Congress a report that—
(1)identifies the number of teachers served
under the grant;
(2)identifies the number of teachers described
in paragraph (1) who obtain a teaching position in a computer science
classroom; and
(3)evaluates the activities carried out under
this section.
.
(c)The table of
contents for such Act is amended by inserting before the item relating to part
C of title II the following:
Subpart 2—Model teacher preparation
program
Sec. 2211. Computer science model teacher
preparation
program.
.
8.Computer science
in the Robert Noyce teacher scholarship programSection 10 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–1) is amended—
(1)by striking
and mathematics
and inserting mathematics, informatics,
and computer science
in each place it appears;
(2)in subsection
(a)(3)(B), by striking or mathematics
and inserting
mathematics, informatics, and computer science
;
(3)in subsections
(b)(1)(D)(i), (c)(1)(A), (d)(1), and (i)(7) by striking or
mathematics
in each place it appears and inserting mathematics,
informatics, or computer science
; and
(4)in subsection (i)(5), by striking or
mathematics
and inserting mathematics, or computer
science
.
9.In this Act:
(1)The term computer science means the study of
computers and algorithmic processes and includes the study of computing
principles, computer hardware and software design, computer applications, and
the impact of computers on society.
(2)Computer science
educationThe term computer science education
includes computing education in any of the following:
(A)Software
design.
(B)Hardware
design.
(C)Creation of
digital artifacts.
(D)Abstraction.
(E)Logic.
(F)Algorithm
development and implementation.
(G)Programming
paradigms and languages.
(H)Theoretical
foundations.
(I)Networks.
(J)Graphics.
(K)Databases and
information retrieval.
(L)Information
security and privacy.
(M)Artificial
intelligence.
(N)The relationship
between computing and mathematics.
(O)The limits of
computation.
(P)Applications in
information technology and information systems.
(Q)The social impacts
of computing.
(3)Institution of
higher educationThe term institution of higher
education has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(4)The term local educational
agency—
(A)subject to
subparagraph (B), has the meaning given that term in section 9101(26) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(26)); and
(B)includes any
charter school (as defined in section 5210(1) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7221i(1))) that
constitutes a local educational agency under State law.
(5)The
term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.
(6)The term State educational agency
has the meaning given that term in section 9101(41) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(41)).
(7)Students
underrepresented in computingThe term students
underrepresented in computing—
(A)means populations
historically underrepresented in computer science disciplines; and
(B)includes females,
racial minorities, and low-income students.