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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2225 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 362 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Barry R. Finegold |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act expanding access to computer science coursework. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Barry R. FinegoldSecond Essex and Middlesex 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2225 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 362 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 362) of Barry R. Finegold for |
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| 19 | 19 | | legislation to expand access to computer science coursework. Education. |
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| 20 | 20 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
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| 21 | 21 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 277 OF 2023-2024.] |
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| 22 | 22 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 23 | 23 | | _______________ |
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| 24 | 24 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 26 | 26 | | _______________ |
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| 27 | 27 | | An Act expanding access to computer science coursework. |
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| 28 | 28 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 29 | 29 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 30 | 30 | | 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following |
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| 31 | 31 | | 2new section:- |
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| 32 | 32 | | 3 Section 100. Computer Science Education |
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| 33 | 33 | | 4 (a) Every public high school in the commonwealth shall offer not less than 1 foundational |
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| 34 | 34 | | 5computer science course and ensure that every student has the option to access such course |
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| 35 | 35 | | 6within a 4-year course of study. |
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| 36 | 36 | | 7 (b) A foundational computer science course offered pursuant to this section shall include |
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| 37 | 37 | | 8rigorous mathematical or scientific concepts and be consistent with standards adopted by the |
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| 38 | 38 | | 9board. 2 of 2 |
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| 39 | 39 | | 10 SECTION 2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop a |
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| 40 | 40 | | 11micro-credentialing process that would allow educators and other persons interested in teaching |
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| 41 | 41 | | 12foundational computer science at the high school level to demonstrate competency in the specific |
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| 42 | 42 | | 13digital literacy and computer science subject matter knowledge requirements that correspond |
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| 43 | 43 | | 14with the aspects of the digital literacy and computer science curriculum that would be taught in a |
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| 44 | 44 | | 15foundational computer science course as described in section 100 of chapter 71, as inserted by |
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| 45 | 45 | | 16section 1. The micro-credentialing process shall be made available to all educators currently in |
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| 46 | 46 | | 17the process of meeting the requirements for the digital literacy and computer science 5-12 license |
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| 47 | 47 | | 18and all others interested in teaching such coursework; provided, however, that completion of the |
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| 48 | 48 | | 19foundational computer science micro-credentialing process would qualify such person so |
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| 49 | 49 | | 20credentialed to teach 1 or more foundational computer science courses as described in said |
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| 50 | 50 | | 21section 100 of said chapter 71, as so inserted, for a period not to exceed 5 years without having |
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| 51 | 51 | | 22to achieve any other teacher certification requirements except for those determined by the |
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| 52 | 52 | | 23department to be minimally necessary for said role. The requirements met by a person who has |
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| 53 | 53 | | 24achieved a micro-credential may be applied toward the requirements necessary for achieving full |
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| 54 | 54 | | 25certification to teach computer science. |
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| 55 | 55 | | 26 SECTION 3. Section 1 shall take effect for school years beginning on or after July 1, |
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| 56 | 56 | | 272026. |
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