[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 671 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 671

    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
strengthen elementary and secondary computer science education, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 4, 2015

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 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 and Jobs 
Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).

SEC. 3. COMPUTER SCIENCE DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 9101 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (10), (11), and 
        (34) through (43) as paragraphs (8) through (11), (34), and 
        (35) through (44), respectively, and by moving paragraph (34) 
        (as so redesignated) to follow paragraph (33);
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) Computer science.--The term `computer science' means 
        the study of computers and algorithmic processes and includes 
        the study of computing principles, computer hardware, software 
        design, computer applications, and the impact of computers on 
        society.'';
            (3) in paragraph (34), as redesignated by paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Core 
                academic'' and inserting ``Priority'';
                    (B) by striking ``core academic'' and inserting 
                ``priority''; and
                    (C) by striking ``and geography'' and inserting 
                ``geography, and computer science''; and
            (4) in paragraph (35)(A), as redesignated by paragraph 
        (1)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``(including 
                computer science)'' after ``academic subjects''; and
                    (B) in clause (xi), by striking ``core academic 
                subjects'' and inserting ``priority subjects''.
    (b) Conforming and Technical Amendments.--The Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in each of sections 1112(g)(4), 1603(b)(2)(B), 
        2113(c)(4), 2403(2)(A)(i)(I), 2415(3)(C), 3231(c)(2), 
        3302(e)(1)(B)(ii), and 7121(c)(1)(B), by striking ``core 
        academic subjects'' and inserting ``priority subjects'';
            (2) in each of sections 1116(b)(3)(A), 1119(a)(2), 2123(a), 
        2134(a), 2416(a), 3102, 3115(c), and 4201, by striking ``core 
        academic subjects'' each place the term appears and inserting 
        ``priority subjects''.

SEC. 4. EXPANDING ACCESS TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPUTER SCIENCE.

    Section 1705(c)(4) (20 U.S.C. 6535(c)(4)) is amended by striking 
``and science'' and inserting ``science, and computer science''.

SEC. 5. COMPUTER SCIENCE IN STATE PLANS AND STATE REPORT CARDS.

    (a) State Plans and State Report Cards.--Section 1111 (20 U.S.C. 
6311) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(E), by inserting ``, including 
                computer science,'' after ``For the subjects''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (8)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) how the State educational agency shall 
                consider including computer science in academic 
                standards, academic accountability, and assessments 
                under subsection (b).''; and
            (2) in subsection (h)(1), by adding at the end the 
        following:
                    ``(E) Workforce needs information.--The State shall 
                include, in the State report card, a description of the 
                10 most in-demand occupations in the State for the most 
                recent year for which data are available, and how the 
                subjects being taught in the public elementary schools 
                and secondary schools of the State are exposing 
                students to knowledge and skills that are or will be in 
                demand in the State and local workforces.''.
    (b) Highly Qualified Teachers.--Section 1119(a)(2) (20 U.S.C. 
6319(a)(2)) is amended by striking the period after ``school year'' and 
inserting ``, except that computer science teachers shall be highly 
qualified not later than the end of the 2016-2017 school year.''.

SEC. 6. COMPUTER SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIPS.

    (a) Subpart Heading.--Part B of title II (20 U.S.C. 6661 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after the part heading the following new 
subpart heading:

                   ``Subpart 1--Partnership Grants''.

    (b) Purposes and Definitions.--
            (1) Section 2201(a)(3) (20 U.S.C. 6661(a)(3)) is amended by 
        striking ``and engineers'' and inserting ``engineers, computer 
        science professionals, and informatics professionals''.
            (2) Section 2201(b) (20 U.S.C. 6661(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking 
                        ``or science'' and inserting ``science, 
                        informatics, or computer science''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting 
                        ``informatics, computer science,'' after 
                        ``science,'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
                (3); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Mathematics and science.--Except when used in 
        subsections (b)(2)(B) and (c)(3)(A)(ii) of section 2202, the 
        term `mathematics and science' means science, technology, 
        engineering, mathematics, and computer science.''.
    (c) Authorized Activities.--
            (1) Section 2202(c) (20 U.S.C. 6662(c)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and science'' 
                and inserting ``science, informatics, and computer 
                science'';
                    (B) in each of subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of 
                paragraph (4), by striking ``or science'' and inserting 
                ``science, informatics, or computer science'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and science.'' 
                at the end and inserting ``, science, computer science, 
                and informatics.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and engineers'' 
                and inserting ``engineers, computer science 
                professionals, and informatics professionals''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (10), by striking ``engineering 
                and technology'' and inserting ``informatics''.
            (2) Section 2202(e)(2)(C) (20 U.S.C. 6662(e)(2)(C)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in clause (ii), by striking ``or the sciences'' 
                and inserting ``the sciences, informatics, or computer 
                science''; and
                    (B) in clause (iii), by striking ``engineering, and 
                science.'' and inserting ``engineering, science, 
                informatics, and computer science.''
    (d) Conforming and Technical Amendments.--
            (1) The table of contents in section 2 is amended by 
        inserting after the item relating to the heading to part B of 
        title II the following:

                   ``Subpart 1--Partnership Grants''.

            (2) Section 2201 (20 U.S.C. 6661) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
                paragraph (1), by striking ``part'' and inserting 
                ``subpart''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 
                paragraph (1), by striking ``part'' and inserting 
                ``subpart''.
            (3) Section 2202 (20 U.S.C. 6662) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) in each of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of 
                        paragraph (2), by striking ``part'' and 
                        inserting ``subpart'';
                            (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ``part'' 
                        and inserting ``subpart''; and
                            (iii) in paragraph (4), by striking 
                        ``part'' and inserting ``subpart'' each place 
                        the term appears;
                    (B) in each of paragraphs (1) and (2)(E) of 
                subsection (b), by striking ``part'' and inserting 
                ``subpart'';
                    (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``part'' and 
                inserting ``subpart'';
                    (D) in each of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection 
                (d), by striking ``part'' and inserting ``subpart'';
                    (E) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``part'' and 
                inserting ``subpart'' each place the term appears; and
                    (F) in subsection (f), by striking ``part'' and 
                inserting ``subpart''.
            (4) Section 2203 (20 U.S.C. 6663) is amended by striking 
        ``part'' and inserting ``subpart''.

SEC. 7. EXPANDING TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE 
              TEACHERS.

    (a) Computer Science Model Teacher Preparation Program.--Part B of 
title II (20 U.S.C. 6661 et seq.), as amended by section 6, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:

             ``Subpart 2--Model Teacher Preparation Program

``SEC. 2211. COMPUTER SCIENCE MODEL TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants, 
on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education to improve 
training for elementary school and secondary school computer science 
teachers.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--The Secretary may 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) Use of Funds.--An institution of higher education that 
receives a grant under the section shall use the grant funds to carry 
out not less than 1 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) Duration of Grants.--Each grant awarded by the Secretary 
under this section shall be for a period of 5 years.
    ``(e) Report.--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.''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 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.''.

SEC. 8. COMPUTER SCIENCE IN THE ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP 
              PROGRAM.

    Section 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 the term appears;
            (2) in subsection (a)(3)(B), by striking ``or mathematics'' 
        and inserting ``mathematics, informatics, and computer 
        science'';
            (3) in each of subsections (b)(1)(D)(i), (c)(1)(A), (d)(1), 
        by striking ``or mathematics'' and inserting ``mathematics, 
        informatics, or computer science''; and
            (4) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``or 
                mathematics'' and inserting ``mathematics, or computer 
                science''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (7), by striking ``or 
                mathematics'' each place the term appears and inserting 
                ``mathematics, informatics, or computer science''.
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