88R1848 DIO-D
By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1315
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a computer science strategic
advisory committee and a grant program for the professional
development and training of computer science classroom teachers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.466 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.466. COMPUTER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section,
"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by
Section 61.003.
(b) The commissioner shall establish a competitive
professional development grant program to encourage teachers to:
(1) obtain computer science certification; and
(2) continue professional development in coding,
computational thinking, cybersecurity, and computer science
education.
(c) From money appropriated for the purpose, the
commissioner shall make grants to eligible providers that offer:
(1) professional development for classroom teachers
to ensure teachers maintain a working knowledge of current computer
industry standard tools and resources; and
(2) training for computer science certification for
teachers in accordance with certification requirements adopted by
the State Board for Educator Certification.
(d) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
provider must:
(1) be an institution of higher education, regional
education service center, or school district or partnership of
multiple school districts or a nonprofit entity approved by the
commissioner that has demonstrated experience in providing
professional development through a statewide network; and
(2) meet eligibility standards established by
commissioner rule.
(e) An eligible provider receiving a grant under this
section must:
(1) provide the training or professional development
described by Subsection (c) and establish professional development
hubs in each education service center region;
(2) serve high-need campuses;
(3) have established partnerships with institution of
higher education faculty with expertise in cybersecurity,
computing, and computer science education; and
(4) develop partnerships with computer industry
professionals.
(f) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.0181 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0181. COMPUTER SCIENCE STRATEGIC ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. (a) In this section, "advisory committee" means the
computer science strategic advisory committee established under
this section.
(b) The agency shall establish the computer science
strategic advisory committee as a permanent advisory committee to
the agency to develop and provide recommendations for increasing
computer science instruction and participation in public schools.
(c) The advisory committee is composed of at least 11
members. The members must include:
(1) two members appointed by the governor;
(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives;
(4) one member appointed by the chair of the senate
committee with primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary
education;
(5) one member appointed by the chair of the senate
committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education;
(6) one member appointed by the chair of the house of
representatives committee with primary jurisdiction over primary
and secondary education;
(7) one member appointed by the chair of the house of
representatives committee with primary jurisdiction over higher
education;
(8) one member appointed by the chair of the State
Board of Education; and
(9) any other members added by the advisory committee
in a manner determined by the committee in the committee's
discretion.
(d) In appointing members to the advisory committee, the
governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
representatives shall coordinate appointments to ensure that the
six individuals appointed to the advisory committee collectively by
those officers include:
(1) three educators who teach in a public school and
are certified in computer science;
(2) one parent or person standing in parental relation
to a student enrolled in a public school;
(3) one person employed in the technology industry;
and
(4) one faculty member of an institution of higher
education.
(e) The governor shall designate a member of the advisory
committee as the presiding officer of the advisory committee to
serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor.
(f) The advisory committee may hold public meetings.
(g) Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to
compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in fulfilling committee duties.
(h) The agency shall appoint an agency employee to support
the advisory committee.
(i) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
advisory committee shall submit to the governor and the legislature
a report that includes recommended changes to state law, including
funding proposals and timelines for the implementation of the
recommended changes. The report shall include recommendations that
are intended to:
(1) increase the number of certified computer science
teachers;
(2) increase the number of public high schools
offering computer science courses;
(3) increase the number of high school students
enrolled in computer science courses;
(4) encourage the enrollment of diverse student
populations in computer science courses; and
(5) expand computer science learning opportunities,
including computer programming, computer coding, cybersecurity,
and computational thinking, in public schools.
SECTION 3. Section 5, Chapter 1149 (H.B. 2984), Acts of the
86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, is repealed.
SECTION 4. Not later than December 31, 2023, the
commissioner of education shall establish the grant program
required under Section 21.466, Education Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the appropriate persons, as provided by Section
28.0181(c), Education Code, as added by this Act, shall appoint
members to the computer science strategic advisory committee.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2023.