[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3446-S3447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2002. Ms. ROSEN (for herself and Mr. Wicker) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. 
Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for 
Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to 
establish a regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and 
report on economic security, science, research, innovation, 
manufacturing, and job creation, to establish a critical supply chain 
resiliency program, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the end of title I of division F, add the following:

                        Subtitle D--Teach CS Act

     SEC. 6131. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Teacher Education for 
     Computer Science Act'' or the ``Teach CS Act''.

     SEC. 6132. TEACHER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT.

       Section 204(a)(4)(G)(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1022c(a)(4)(G)(i)) is amended by inserting ``and 
     development of computational thinking skills'' after 
     ``integrate technology''.

     SEC. 6133. ENHANCING TEACHER EDUCATION.

       Section 232(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1032a(c)(2)) is amended by inserting ``and development 
     of computational thinking skills,'' after ``technology''.

     SEC. 6134. TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE 
                   EDUCATION.

       Part B of title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is 
     amended (20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) by adding at the end the 
     following:

 ``Subpart 6--Teacher Education Programs for Computer Science Education

     ``SEC. 259. TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE 
                   EDUCATION.

       ``(a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated to 
     carry out this section, the Secretary may award competitive 
     grants to eligible institutions to establish centers of 
     excellence in teacher education programs to support computer 
     science education and computational thinking skill 
     development.
       ``(b) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded to an eligible 
     institution under this section--
       ``(1) shall be used by such institution to ensure that 
     current and future teachers meet the applicable State 
     certification and licensure requirements in a field that will 
     enable them to teach computer science in their State at the 
     elementary and secondary school levels, by--
       ``(A) creating teacher education programs that meet the 
     requirements of section 200(6)(A)(iv) and offer, through 
     hands-on and classroom teaching activities with in-service 
     teachers--
       ``(i) doctoral, master's, or bachelor's degrees in teaching 
     computer science at the elementary school and secondary 
     school levels; or
       ``(ii) teaching endorsements in computer science, in the 
     case of a teacher with related State certification and 
     licensure requirements or a student who is pursuing 
     certification and licensure requirements in related fields, 
     such as mathematics and science;
       ``(B) ensuring that current and future teachers who 
     graduate from such programs meet the applicable State 
     certification and licensure requirements, including any 
     requirements for certification obtained through alternative 
     routes to certification, or, with regard to special education 
     teachers, the qualifications described in section 
     612(a)(14)(C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
     Act;
       ``(C) recruiting individuals to enroll in such programs, 
     including subject matter experts and professionals in fields 
     related to computer science; and
       ``(D) awarding scholarships and fellowships of not more 
     than $4,000 per student based on financial need and to 
     recruit traditionally underrepresented groups in computer 
     science to help such students pay the cost of attendance (as 
     defined in section 472); and
       ``(2) may be used by such institution to conduct research 
     in computer science education and computational thinking 
     skills to improve instruction in such areas.
       ``(c) Duration.--
       ``(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall be 
     awarded for 5 years, conditional upon a satisfactory report 
     to the Secretary of progress with respect to the program 
     carried out with the grant after the first 3 years of the 
     grant period.
       ``(2) Report of progress.--Such report of progress on the 
     program shall include data on the number of students and 
     instructors enrolled, information on former graduates 
     (including on how many earn teaching certification or 
     licensure in a field that will enable them to teach computer 
     science in their State at the secondary level, be prepared to 
     teach computer science at the elementary level, and support 
     students in developing computational thinking skills), and 
     data on any additional funding (other than Federal funds) 
     received to carry out the program.
       ``(d) Application.--
       ``(1) In general.--An eligible institution desiring a grant 
     under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary, at such time in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary may require, which shall 
     include--
       ``(A) a demonstration of the need for teachers with the 
     certification or licensure requirements that enable them to 
     teach computer science at the elementary and secondary level 
     in the geographic area or State in which the institution is 
     located;
       ``(B) the plan to ensure the longevity of the program after 
     the end of the grant; and
       ``(C) the plan to scale up the program (including the plan 
     for the number of personnel to be hired, a description of 
     their expected qualifications and titles, the number of 
     fellowships and scholarships to be awarded, the estimated 
     administrative expenses, proposed academic advising strategy, 
     and organizing and outreach to maintain virtual community of 
     computer science educators).
       ``(2) Equitable distribution.--The Secretary shall award 
     grants under this section in a manner that ensures an 
     equitable distribution of grants--
       ``(A) to rural and urban eligible institutions;
       ``(B) to eligible institutions that qualify for a waiver 
     under subsection (e)(2); and
       ``(C) to eligible institutions that are located in areas 
     where there is a need for increasing computer science 
     education opportunities.
       ``(e) Matching Requirement.--
       ``(1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section, 
     an eligible entity shall provide, from non-Federal sources, 
     an amount that is not less than 50 percent of the amount of 
     the grant, which may be provided in cash or in-kind, to carry 
     out the activities supported by the grant.
       ``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary shall waive all or part of the 
     matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any 
     fiscal year the Secretary determines that applying such 
     requirement to the eligible institution would result in 
     serious hardship or an inability to carry out the authorized 
     activities described in this section.
       ``(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     first grant is awarded under his section and each year 
     thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
     on the success of the program based on metrics determined by 
     the Secretary, including the number of centers established, 
     the number of enrolled students, and the number of qualified 
     teachers.
       ``(g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall use up to 
     5 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year to 
     provide technical assistance to eligible institutions.
       ``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
     institution' means an institution of higher education, as 
     defined in section 101, which may be in a partnership with a 
     nonprofit organization.
       ``(2) Computer science.--The term `computer science' means 
     the study of computers, including algorithmic processes and 
     the study of computing principles and theories, as defined by 
     a State, and may include instruction or learning on--
       ``(A) computer programming or coding as a tool to--
       ``(i) create software, such as applications, games, and 
     websites; and
       ``(ii) process, manage, analyze, or manipulate data;
       ``(B) development and management of computer hardware 
     related to sharing, processing, representing, securing, and 
     using digital information; and
       ``(C) computational thinking skills and interdisciplinary 
     problem-solving to equip

[[Page S3447]]

     students with the skills and abilities necessary to apply 
     computational thinking in the digital world.
       ``(3) Computational thinking.--The term `computational 
     thinking' means critical thinking skills that--
       ``(A) include knowledge of how problems and solutions can 
     be expressed in such a way that allows them to be modeled or 
     solved using a computer or machine;
       ``(B) include the use of strategies related to problem 
     decomposition, pattern matching, abstractions, modularity, 
     and algorithm design; and
       ``(C) involve creative problem solving skills and are 
     applicable across a wide range of disciplines and careers.''.
                                 ______