1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education; establishing computer science grants; requiring rulemaking;
1.3 appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.187, by
1.4 adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters
1.5 120B; 122A.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. [120B.2413] COMPUTER SCIENCE PLAN GRANTS.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Plan development.(a) The Department of Education must award
1.9competitive grants to school districts or charter schools that do not offer instruction in
1.10computer science to develop comprehensive computer science plans. A district or charter
1.11school must use grant funds to develop a plan that:
1.12 (1) describes how the district intends to incorporate computer science into curriculum
1.13or course offerings in kindergarten through grade 12;
1.14 (2) identifies supports needed to enhance computer science teacher capacity, skills, and
1.15learning; and
1.16 (3) identifies funding sources to sustain computer science offerings in future school
1.17years.
1.18 (b) A plan may include strategies to provide leadership training, curriculum enhancement,
1.19partnership engagement, or industry involvement to enhance computer science programs.
1.20 (c) A grant applicant must submit an application in the form and manner determined by
1.21the commissioner. A grant recipient must submit a plan to the department by June 30, 2027.
1Section 1.
25-05314 as introduced04/01/25 REVISOR CR/AC
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 3378NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: LUCERO and Wiklund)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading04/10/2025
Referred to Education Policy 2.1 Subd. 2.Plan implementation.(a) The Department of Education must award competitive
2.2grants to school districts or charter schools to implement computer science plans that meet
2.3the requirements for plans under subdivision 1.
2.4 (b) A grant applicant must submit an application in the form and manner determined by
2.5the commissioner, and must include a copy of the plan to be implemented. The department
2.6must prioritize grant awards for applicants that:
2.7 (1) have a plan that describes how the applicant will ensure every student in kindergarten
2.8through grade 8 receives instruction in computer science;
2.9 (2) have a plan that describes how the applicant will ensure computer science is offered
2.10to all high school students; or
2.11 (3) intend to use grant money to serve school sites that serve fewer than 500 students.
2.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.187, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.13to read:
2.14 Subd. 8.Computer science.The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
2.15must adopt rules requiring all licensed teachers renewing their license under sections
2.16122A.181 to 122A.184 to include in the renewal requirements professional development in
2.17foundational computer science concepts.
2.18 Sec. 3. [122A.632] COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHERS.
2.19 Subdivision 1.Teacher preparation programs.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing
2.20and Standards Board must award competitive grants to board-approved teacher preparation
2.21program providers to establish computer science teacher licensure programs or integrate
2.22computer science into existing teacher preparation programs that lead to initial or additional
2.23licensure. An applicant for a grant under this section must submit an application in the form
2.24and manner determined by the board.
2.25 (b) An application for a grant to add computer science to an existing licensure program
2.26must include:
2.27 (1) an initial plan for integrating computer science in grade level and subject areas aligned
2.28to state academic standards in science, mathematics, and other areas; and
2.29 (2) documentation of educator expertise in kindergarten through grade 12 computer
2.30science aligned to the computer science benchmarks in subject standards, a computer science
2.31license, or a plan for how teacher educators will gain that expertise.
2Sec. 3.
25-05314 as introduced04/01/25 REVISOR CR/AC 3.1 (c) An application for a grant to establish a teacher preparation program that leads to
3.2licensure in computer science must include:
3.3 (1) a plan for submitting a request for initial program approval to the board;
3.4 (2) documentation of educator expertise in kindergarten through grade 12 computer
3.5science aligned to the computer science license or a plan for how teacher educators will
3.6gain that expertise;
3.7 (3) a plan for sustainability of the program after the grant period; and
3.8 (4) the number and demographics of teacher candidates impacted by the program.
3.9 (d) A teacher preparation provider that receives a grant under this section must report
3.10to the board on the computer science content being taught in teacher preparation programs
3.11and the number of teachers impacted.
3.12 Subd. 2.Candidate support.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
3.13Board must develop a program to support teachers earning licensure in computer science
3.14through a portfolio or exam process. The board must also conduct a needs assessment to
3.15understand the feasibility of a microcredential to support licensure in computer science.
3.16 (b) The program of support must include:
3.17 (1) offering a course at no cost to teachers to prepare for a board-adopted assessment in
3.18computer science; and
3.19 (2) support for completing a portfolio to earn a license in computer science, including:
3.20 (i) a yearlong mentorship program;
3.21 (ii) quarterly meetings where applicants receive guidance on completing the portfolio
3.22process from a portfolio liaison with computer science content expertise, dedicated
3.23specifically to facilitating this program;
3.24 (iii) a stipend to cover substitute teachers when meetings take place during the school
3.25day; and
3.26 (iv) a waiver for all portfolio and licensure testing fees.
3.27 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS; COMPUTER SCIENCE IMPLEMENTATION.
3.28 Subdivision 1.Department of Education.The sums indicated in this section are
3.29appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
3.30designated.
3Sec. 4.
25-05314 as introduced04/01/25 REVISOR CR/AC 4.1 Subd. 2.Computer science plan grants.(a) For grants to school districts or charter
4.2schools to develop or implement comprehensive computer science plans in accordance with
4.3Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.2413:
2026............4.4 $
2027............4.5 $
4.6 (b) Of this amount, $....... is for grants for plan development under Minnesota Statutes,
4.7section 120B.2413, subdivision 1, and $....... is for grants for plan implementation under
4.8Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.2413, subdivision 2. The department may retain up to ...
4.9percent to administer the grant.
4.10 (c) This is a onetime appropriation.
4.11 Sec. 5. APPROPRIATIONS; COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHER GRANTS.
4.12 Subdivision 1.Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.The sums
4.13indicated in this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Professional Educator
4.14Licensing and Standards Board in the fiscal years designated.
4.15 Subd. 2.Computer science teachers preparation programs.For grants to approved
4.16teacher preparation program providers in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section
4.17122A.632, subdivision 1:
2026............4.18 $
2027............4.19 $
4.20 Subd. 3.Computer science teacher support programs.To support a licensure pathway
4.21program for computer science teachers under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.632,
4.22subdivision 2:
20..............4.23 $
20..............4.24 $
4.25 Subd. 4.Computer science teacher licensure incentive.(a) To provide stipends of
4.26$1,000 per teacher to teachers newly earning a teaching license in computer science:
20..............4.27 $
20..............4.28 $
4.29 (b) This is a onetime appropriation.
4Sec. 5.
25-05314 as introduced04/01/25 REVISOR CR/AC