2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 190
BY SENATORS HEWITT AND FOIL
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Subpart A-3 of Part III of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
3 of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 17:187.1 through 187.5, and R.S. 36:651(F)(7),
4 relative to computer science education; to provide for legislative findings and intent;
5 to provide for the development of a statewide computer science education program;
6 to create the Computer Science Education Advisory Commission; to provide for its
7 membership, compensation, and duties; and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. Subpart A-3 of Part III of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised
10 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 17:187.1 through 187.5, is hereby enacted to read as
11 follows:
12 SUBPART A-3. COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION
13 §187.1. Short title
14 This Subpart shall be known as the "Computer Science Education Act".
15 §187.2. Computer science education; legislative findings; intent
16 A. The legislature finds the following:
17 (1) Computer science is a transforming industry that bolsters
18 productivity, drives innovation, and creates commerce.
19 (2) Knowledge of computer science and the use of technology is essential
20 for all individuals, not just those working or planning to work in the technology
21 sector.
22 (3) Cross-curricular instruction at all grade levels in computer science
23 will enhance student achievement in core subjects, increase student motivation
24 for learning, and develop a skilled workforce.
25 (4) Positions related to computer science are some of the fastest-growing
ACT No. 541
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1 in the global economy, yet many of those positions remain unfilled. In order to
2 fill those positions, a comprehensive computer science education strategy needs
3 to be integrated into the elementary and secondary grades that flows seamlessly
4 into careers and postsecondary education pathways.
5 (5) In Louisiana, the fastest growing industry is Professional, Scientific,
6 and Technical Services which is composed of much of the technology industry.
7 Software developers and network administrators are among the ten fastest-
8 growing occupations in the state requiring a college education, yet the state is
9 producing fewer than half of the graduates needed to fill computer science-
10 related jobs.
11 (6) Successful completion of rigorous postsecondary computer science
12 programs requires a thorough foundation at the elementary and secondary
13 education level.
14 (7) It is in the public interest that a comprehensive computer science
15 education initiative be undertaken to ensure Louisiana has citizens who have the
16 expertise to perform the technology skills embedded in most professions, who
17 can meet the ever-increasing workforce demands in the technology sector, and
18 who can envision and grow the next generation of technological advances.
19 (8) In order to fulfill the need for a comprehensive computer science
20 education, more teachers need to be trained to teach computer science and all
21 schools need to offer computer science courses.
22 B. It is the intent of the legislature to create a comprehensive statewide
23 computer science education program that benefits all citizens, flows seamlessly
24 between all levels of education, and meets the needs of a dynamic and
25 competitive economy.
26 §187.3. Computer Science Education Advisory Commission; establishment,
27 members, purpose
28 A.(1) The Computer Science Education Advisory Commission, referred
29 to in this Chapter as the "advisory commission", is established to provide
30 recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
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1 through the state Department of Education for the development and
2 implementation of a state action plan for the delivery of education in computer
3 science in all public schools.
4 (2) The advisory commission shall be composed of the following
5 members:
6 (a) One member appointed by the governor.
7 (b) One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
8 (c) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of
9 Representatives.
10 (d) The state superintendent of education, or his designee.
11 (e) A member of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
12 Education, appointed by the board president.
13 (f) The commissioner of higher education, or his designee.
14 (g) A member of the Board of Regents, appointed by the board president.
15 (h) The executive director of the Louisiana Office of Student and
16 Financial Assistance, or his designee.
17 (i) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College
18 System, or his designee.
19 (j) The president of the Louisiana State University System, or his
20 designee.
21 (k) The president of the University of Louisiana System, or his designee.
22 (l) The president of the Southern University System, or his designee.
23 (m) The secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or his
24 designee.
25 (n) The secretary of the Louisiana Economic Development, or his
26 designee.
27 (o) A computer science professor appointed by the commissioner of
28 higher education.
29 (p) A public high school computer science teacher appointed by the
30 president of the Louisiana Chapter of Computer Science Teachers Association.
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1 (q) A public middle school computer science teacher appointed by the
2 president of the Louisiana Chapter of Computer Science Teachers Association.
3 (r) A public elementary school computer science teacher appointed by
4 the president of the Louisiana Chapter of Computer Science Teachers
5 Association.
6 (s) A superintendent of a public school system appointed by the
7 Louisiana Association of School Superintendents.
8 (t) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter
9 Schools, or his designee.
10 (u) The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association,
11 or his designee.
12 (v) The chairmen of the Senate and House committees on education, or
13 their designees.
14 (w) The president of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges
15 and Universities, or his designee.
16 (3) The members shall serve without compensation, except for per diem
17 or reimbursement of expenses to which they may be entitled as members of the
18 constituent organizations.
19 (4) The state superintendent of education shall call an organizational
20 meeting of the advisory commission by August 15, 2022. The advisory
21 commission shall elect a chairman and any other officers deemed necessary
22 from among the membership at such meeting. Thereafter, the advisory
23 commission shall meet upon call of the chairman.
24 (5) A majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum of the
25 advisory commission, and any official action taken by the advisory commission
26 shall require an affirmative vote of the majority of the quorum present and
27 voting.
28 (6) The state Department of Education shall provide staff support for the
29 advisory commission.
30 (7) The advisory commission shall cease to exist on December 1, 2024,
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1 unless the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education provides for the
2 continued existence of the advisory commission through the board's rules and
3 procedures. The board shall inform the Louisiana Law Institute of termination
4 or continuation of the advisory commission.
5 B. The commission shall work with:
6 (1) Public elementary and secondary education administrators and
7 teachers to identify the gaps between computer science education services
8 currently provided and those needed in both the near- and long-term and
9 possible reasons for such gaps.
10 (2) Faculty members in teacher education programs at postsecondary
11 education institutions and current computer science teachers to identify:
12 (a) Appropriate computer science education teacher competencies.
13 (b) Acceptable approaches for current classroom teachers to develop the
14 competencies.
15 (c) Whether there is a need to create professional development programs
16 to assist current teachers in developing needed computer science education
17 competencies.
18 (d) Methods to recruit and retain computer science teachers.
19 (3) Business leaders and postsecondary education institutions to identify
20 computer science workforce needs and the skills postsecondary students need
21 to successfully navigate postsecondary computer science programs.
22 C. By December 1, 2023, the advisory commission shall provide a report
23 to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on
24 recommendations and items to be addressed in a statewide plan for computer
25 science. At a minimum, the report shall address the following items:
26 (1) State content standards in computer science for grades kindergarten
27 through twelve.
28 (2) Coordination of computer science education between elementary and
29 secondary schools, postsecondary education institutions, and the workforce.
30 (3) Any computer science requirements for high school graduation,
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1 postsecondary entrance, and eligibility for the Taylor Opportunity Program for
2 Students.
3 (4) Standardized computer science teacher training, including
4 certification requirements, preservice training programs, and professional
5 development activities.
6 (5) Technical assistance grants to public schools needed for the creation
7 and expansion of computer science courses.
8 (6) Funding strategies for computer science teacher training and
9 expansion of computer science courses offered in public schools.
10 §187.4. State action plan for computer science education
11 The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, upon
12 recommendations of the Computer Science Advisory Commission and the state
13 Department of Education, shall develop and approve a state action plan for
14 computer science education for kindergarten through grade twelve. The state
15 action plan shall provide for a comprehensive, integrated plan for providing
16 computer science education in Louisiana public schools. The plan shall address
17 instructional strategies, guidelines, content standards, and teacher development.
18 Upon its approval, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
19 shall submit the action plan to the legislature for its review.
20 §187.5. Funding
21 The state action plan established pursuant to this Subpart shall be
22 implemented upon the appropriation of funds for this purpose.
23 Section 2. R.S. 36:651(F)(7) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
24 §651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department of
25 Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department of
26 Education
27 * * *
28 F. The following agencies are transferred to and hereafter shall be within the
29 Department of Education as provided in R.S. 36:901 et seq.:
30 * * *
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1 (7) The Computer Science Education Advisory Commission (R.S.
2 17:187.3).
3 * * *
4 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
5 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
6 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
7 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
8 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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