HOUSE BILL 341
54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019
INTRODUCED BY
Debra M. Sariñana and Abbas Akhil and Jacob R. Candelaria
AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CREATING A COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM; CREATING THE COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM FUND; PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHERS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Computer Science Professional Development Grant Program Act".
SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Computer Science Professional Development Grant Program Act:
A. "computer science" means the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including principles, hardware and software designs, implementation and the societal impacts;
B. "computer science course" means a course that teaches computer science either as a standalone course or, for elementary and middle schools, within other subjects; and
C. "computer science professional learning" means professional development activities that:
(1) clarify the conceptual foundations of computer science;
(2) teach research-based practices, including hands-on and inquiry-based learning; and
(3) are intended for existing teachers with or without prior exposure to computer science.
SECTION 3. [NEW MATERIAL] COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM FUND--
CREATION--DISTRIBUTIONS--ELIGIBLE ENTITIES--ELIGIBLE FUNDING USES--APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS--PRIORITIES FOR AWARDS--REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.--
A. The "computer science program fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money appropriated by the legislature. Money in the fund shall not revert to any other fund at the end of a fiscal year. The secretary of public education shall administer the fund, and money in the
fund is appropriated to the public education department to administer the provisions of the Computer Science Professional Development Grant Program Act. Money in the fund shall
be disbursed on warrants signed by the secretary of finance and
administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education or the secretary's authorized representative.
B. Grant amounts will be determined by each entity's grant application. Funds from the computer science program fund shall be distributed to the following entities to develop and implement teacher professional development programs for computer science courses and content:
(1) school districts or state-chartered charter schools;
(2) institutions of higher education, including community colleges; and
(3) regional education cooperatives.
C. The public education department may provide grants in accordance with Subsection B of this section for the following purposes:
(1) high-quality professional learning programs for kindergarten through grade twelve computer science content, including travel expenses to trainings;
(2) credentialing programs for kindergarten through grade twelve computer science teachers, including career and technical education and academic supplemental endorsements;
(3) programs for kindergarten through grade twelve computer science professional learning, including mentoring and coaching;
(4) resource development to support implementation, including a computer science resource bank; or
(5) student recruitment.
D. A school district or state-chartered charter school shall submit an application to the public education department before the department provides a grant from the computer science program fund. The application must address how the entity will use money from the fund to:
(1) educate teachers with minimal computer science background;
(2) use research or evidence-based practices for high-quality professional development;
(3) focus the professional learning on the conceptual foundations of computer science;
(4) reach and support historically underrepresented students in computer science;
(5) provide teachers with concrete experience with hands-on, inquiry-based practices;
(6) accommodate the particular teachers' and students' needs in each district and school; and
(7) ensure that participating districts shall begin offering the courses or content within the same or next school year after the teacher receives the computer science professional learning.
E. The public education department shall prioritize the following applications:
(1) school districts or state-chartered charter schools that are working with providers of high-quality professional learning for kindergarten through grade twelve computer science;
(2) proposals that describe strategies to enroll females and underrepresented minorities, students on free or reduced-fee lunch, students with disabilities and English language learners; or
(3) proposals from rural or urban areas with a low concentration of kindergarten through grade twelve computer science offerings, including local education agencies that partner together to form clusters of implementation.
F. Each award recipient shall report annually to the public education department the following information:
(1) the number of teachers prepared;
(2) the number of students who participated in computer science classes;
(3) the gender, racial and socioeconomic diversity of those students;
(4) the number and diversity of students with passing advanced placement examination scores for high school courses once that data is available;
(5) the number of teachers that started implementing computer science in middle and high schools versus the number of prepared teachers that attended professional learning;
(6) agendas from trainings or events; and
(7) a summary of which schools were represented at a training or event.
SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the computer science program fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2020 and subsequent fiscal years for the purposes of that fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.
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