1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Computer Science Education and Jobs Act of 2013”.
Computer Science Education and Jobs Act of 2013
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen elementary and secondary computer science education, and for other purposes.
2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
Computer science is transforming industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation in all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in established economic sectors.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be 9,200,000 jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by the year 2020. Half of these, or 4,600,000 jobs, will be in computing.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012, the national median annual salary was $45,790, and the average annual salary in computer and mathematical occupations was $80,180.
Elementary and secondary computer science education gives students a deeper knowledge of the fundamentals of computing, yielding critical thinking skills that will serve students throughout their lives in numerous fields.
Students who take the College Board’s AP computer science examination are 8 times more likely to major in computer science in college. Unfortunately, the College Board reports that in 2012, less than 3,000 of the 40,000 high schools in the United States offered AP computer science examinations.
Only 14 States allow computer science courses to count toward secondary school core graduation requirements, chilling student interest in computer science courses.
The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) has found that many States do not have a certification or licensure process for computer science teachers. Where processes do exist, they often have no connection to rigorous computer science content.
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.
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.
With the growing importance of computing in society, the need for students to understand the fundamentals of computing, and the significant challenges elementary and secondary computer science education faces, broad support for computer science education is needed to catalyze reform.
3. 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.).
4. Computer science definitions
Section 9101 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (43) as paragraphs (8) through (44), respectively;
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.”
in paragraph (12), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking “and geography” and inserting “geography, and computer science”; and
in subparagraph (A)(i) of paragraph (35), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by inserting “(including computer science)” after “academic subjects”.
5. 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”.
6. Computer science in state plans
State plans— Section 1111(b) (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)(E), by adding at the end the following: “Computer science is included as a subject under this subparagraph.”; and
in paragraph (8)—
in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
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).”
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 found to be highly qualified not later than the end of the 2015–2016 school year.”.
7. Computer science in mathematics and science partnerships
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:
“1 Partnership Grants”
Purposes and definitions—
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”.
Section 2201(b) (20 U.S.C. 6661(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), by striking “or science” and inserting “science, informatics, or computer science”;
in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by inserting “informatics, computer science,” after “science,”; and
by inserting at the end of such section the following:
“(3) Mathematics and Science—The term mathematics and science means science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science.”
Authorized activities—
Section 2202(c) (20 U.S.C. 6662(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (4), by striking “and science” and inserting “science, informatics, and computer science”;
in subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of paragraph (4), by striking “or science” and inserting “science, informatics, or computer science”;
in paragraph (5), by striking “and science.” at the end and inserting “, science, computer science, and informatics.”;
in paragraph (8), by striking “and engineers” and inserting “engineers, computer science professionals, and informatics professionals”; and
in paragraph (10), by striking “engineering and technology” and inserting “informatics”.
Section 2202(e)(2)(C) (20 U.S.C. 6662(e)(2)(C)) is amended—
in clause (ii), by striking “or the sciences” and inserting “the sciences, informatics, or computer science”; and
in clause (iii), by striking “engineering, and science.” and inserting “engineering, science, informatics, and computer science.”
Conforming and technical amendments—
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:
Section 2201 (20 U.S.C. 6661) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”; and
in subsection (b), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”.
Section 2202 (20 U.S.C. 6662) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in each of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”;
in paragraph (3), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”; and
in paragraph (4), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart” each place the term appears;
in each of paragraphs (1) and (2)(E) of subsection (b), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”;
in subsection (c), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”;
in each of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”;
in subsection (e)(1), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart” each place the term appears; and
in subsection (f), by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”.
Section 2203 (20 U.S.C. 6663) is amended by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”.
8. Expanding teacher preparation programs for computer science teachers
Computer science model teacher preparation program— Part B of title II (20 U.S.C. 6661 et seq.), as amended by section 7, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“2 Model Teacher Preparation Program
“2211. Computer science model teacher preparation program
“(a) Establishment—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) 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.”
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:
9. 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—
by striking “and mathematics” and inserting “mathematics, informatics, and computer science” in each place it appears;
in subsection (a)(3)(B), by striking “or mathematics” and inserting “mathematics, informatics, and computer science”;
in subsections (b)(1)(D)(i), (c)(1)(A), (d)(1), and (i)(7), by striking “or mathematics” each place the term appears and inserting “mathematics, informatics, or computer science”; and
in subsection (i)(5), by striking “or mathematics” and inserting “mathematics, or computer science”.