[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1614 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1614

  To provide grants to State educational agencies and institutions of 
   higher education to strengthen elementary and secondary computer 
               science education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 22, 2011

   Mr. Casey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide grants to State educational agencies and institutions of 
   higher education to strengthen elementary and secondary computer 
               science education, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Computer Science Education Act of 
2011''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Computing technology, driven by breakthroughs in 
        computer science, is an integral part of the culture of the 
        United States and is reshaping how people interact.
            (2) Computer science is transforming industry, creating new 
        fields of commerce, driving innovation in all fields of 
        science, and bolstering productivity in established economic 
        sectors.
            (3) 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.
            (4) 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.
            (5) Computer science is critical for national security and 
        for meeting the challenges that a modern society faces. Of the 
        14 Grand Challenges for Engineering determined by the National 
        Academy of Engineering, 8 have a predominant or significant 
        computer science component.
            (6) 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.
            (7) 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.
            (8) 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.
            (9) 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.
            (10) According to the National Center for Women and 
        Information Technology, women and certain racial minorities are 
        underrepresented in computer science education. In 2008, 17 
        percent of AP computer science test takers were women, even 
        though women represented 55 percent of all AP test takers. In 
        2008, only 4 percent of AP computer science test takers were 
        African-Americans, even though African-Americans represented 7 
        percent of all AP test takers. Only 784 African-American 
        students nationwide took the AP computer science exam in 2008.
            (11) While some States, including Texas and Georgia, allow 
        computer science courses to count toward a student's secondary 
        school core graduation requirements, most States that have 
        specific course requirements for graduation count computer 
        science courses only as electives, chilling student interest in 
        computer science courses.
            (12) The CSTA has found that many States do not have a 
        certification or licensure process for computer science 
        teachers, and where processes do exist, such processes often 
        have no connection to computer science content.
            (13) The CSTA has developed model computer science teacher 
        certification pathways for both new and experienced teachers.
            (14) 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.
            (15) 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.
            (16) The Association for Computing Machinery and the CSTA 
        have established a clear 4-part, grade-appropriate framework of 
        standards for computer science education to guide State reform 
        efforts.
            (17) 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.

SEC. 3. STATE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING GRANTS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--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) Objectives.--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 underserved student 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 Plans.--A 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 education level are considered 
                an integral part of the curriculum students need to be 
                well prepared for higher education and employment.
    (d) Consultation.--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) Duration of Grants.--The Secretary shall award each grant under 
subsection (a) for a period of 2 years.
    (f) Funding Structure.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award a grant to each 
        State educational agency that applies for a grant under this 
        section in an amount that bears the same relation to the total 
        amount available for all such grants as the number of low-
        income children served by the State educational agency bears to 
        the total number of low-income children served by all of the 
        State educational agencies that apply for such grants.
            (2) Counting low-income children.--
                    (A) Categories of children.--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 section 
                        1124(c)(4)(A) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        6333(c)(4)(A)).
                    (B) Methodology.--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) Minimum grant.--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.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--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 3.
    (b) Benchmarks.--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) Activities.--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) Administrative Expenses.--A State educational agency may use 
not more than 5 percent of a grant received under this section for 
administrative expenses.
    (e) Partnerships.--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) Non-Federal Share.--
            (1) In general.--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 waiver.--The 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) Duration of Grants.--The Secretary shall award each grant under 
subsection (a) for a period of 5 years.
    (h) Subsequent Grants.--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 3. 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; Priority.--The 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) Funding Priority.--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) Supplement, Not Supplant.--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) Reports.--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 7;
            (4) submit a report to the Secretary addressing each item 
        in paragraphs (1) through (3) not later than 4 years after the 
        date on which the State educational agency receives an initial 
        grant under this section; and
            (5) not later than 2 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) Guidance.--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.

SEC. 5. COMMISSION ON COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION.

    (a) Commission.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a Commission, to 
be known as the ``Blue Ribbon Commission on Computer Science 
Education'' (in this section referred to as the ``Commission''), to 
provide recommendations for expanding and improving computer science 
education.
    (b) Membership.--The Commission shall consist of not more than 20 
members and shall include not less than 1 of each of the following:
            (1) A State education official.
            (2) An expert in computer science.
            (3) A representative of an elementary or secondary computer 
        science education practitioner organization.
            (4) An elementary or secondary computer science teacher.
            (5) A social scientist with expertise on equity issues in 
        the field of computer science.
            (6) A representative of the computing industry or an 
        industry that depends on computing services.
    (c) Review.--The Commission shall--
            (1) review the state of elementary and secondary computer 
        science education; and
            (2) review the state of computer science teacher 
        certification requirements.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on which the 
Commission is established, the Commission shall submit to Congress and 
the Secretary a report containing the results of the review under 
subsection (c). Such report shall include--
            (1) recommendations on best practices for computer science 
        instruction, teacher preparation, and professional development;
            (2) recommendations on best practices for computer science 
        teacher certification, including recommendations on achieving 
        congruence between State computer science teacher certification 
        standards and the content of teacher preparation programs 
        offered by institutions of higher education; and
            (3) recommendations for expanding capacity--
                    (A) to help students understand computer science, 
                the job opportunities available to those who pursue 
                computer science education, and the importance of 
                computer science in the economy;
                    (B) to strengthen computer science education in the 
                elementary and secondary public education system in the 
                United States; and
                    (C) to increase participation in computer science 
                among students underrepresented in computing.
    (e) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the date that 
is 30 days after the date of the submission of the report required 
under subsection (d).

SEC. 6. MODEL TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Model Teacher Preparation Programs.--The Secretary may award 
grants to institutions of higher education to improve computer science 
teacher training.
    (b) Eligible Activities.--A grant received under subsection (a) 
shall be used to carry out not less than 1 of the following activities:
            (1) Development of courses for undergraduate students 
        that--
                    (A) prepare such students to teach computer science 
                at the elementary and secondary level;
                    (B) address content and pedagogy in computer 
                science education; and
                    (C) engage teacher education and other relevant 
                departments at such institution of higher education.
            (2) Development and support of mentoring programs to 
        support computer science teachers who are new to the 
        profession.
    (c) Duration of Grants.--Each grant awarded by the Secretary under 
this section shall be for a period of 5 years.
    (d) Limitations.--The Secretary may not award grants under this 
section before the earlier of the date of the submission of the report 
of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Computer Science Education required 
under section 5(d), or the date that is 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. The Secretary shall consider such report, if 
available, in awarding grants under this section.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL EVALUATION.

    (a) In General.--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) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Initial report.--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) Report updates.--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.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Computer science.--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 education.--The 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 education.--The 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) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency''--
                    (A) subject to subparagraph (B), has the meaning 
                given that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801); and
                    (B) includes any charter school (as defined in 
                section 5210 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7221i)) that constitutes a local 
                educational agency under State law.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (6) State educational agency.--The term ``State educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 9101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (7) State p-16 or p-20 council.--The term ``State P-16 or 
        P-20 council'' means a body of public officials and public and 
        private sector leaders that--
                    (A) is established by a State executive order, 
                statute, or voluntary agreement and may be regularly 
                chaired or co-chaired by the Governor of the State;
                    (B) sets formal aligned expectations for a seamless 
                system of education from the earliest years of a 
                child's development through the kindergarten through 
                grade 12 system and into and through postsecondary 
                education;
                    (C) acts as a venue for collaboration across early 
                learning, including preschool through the first 4 years 
                of higher education or through doctoral and 
                professional schools; and
                    (D) receives State, foundation, business, or other 
                funding to carry out the body's agenda.
            (8) Students underrepresented in computing.--The term 
        ``students underrepresented in computing''--
                    (A) means populations historically underrepresented 
                in computer science disciplines; and
                    (B) includes females, racial minorities, and low-
                income students.
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