SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 9

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob R. Candelaria and Debra M. Sariñana

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CONVENE A COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EXPANDING COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

     WHEREAS, computer science education is important in today's modern, digital society; and

     WHEREAS, computer science literacy gives students vital twenty-first-century skills, and those skills strengthen local communities, national innovation and opportunities for youth; and

     WHEREAS, the state needs to create roadmaps to address a number of policy and implementation issues to integrate computer science as a new subject into existing school systems; and

     WHEREAS, clarity of goals, including a state plan for expanding computer science education in elementary and secondary schools and an agreed-upon definition of computer science and learning expectations, is a critical component of implementation; and

     WHEREAS, equitable access to kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science must be the foundation of a state's plan for expanding computer science education in elementary and secondary schools;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to convene a computer science education task force to study the development of a state strategic plan for expanding computer science education in elementary and secondary schools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education be requested to appoint the members of the computer science education task force, including representatives from:

          A. the public education department;

          B. the computer science industry;

          C. educational nonprofit organizations;

          D. the New Mexico school superintendents' association;

          E. the governor's office of policy and planning;

          F. the higher education department;

          G. legislators from the two largest major political parties from the house of representatives and senate;

          H. a computer science department from an institution of higher education;

I. a college of education; and

          J. a teacher leader from a statewide association representing computer science teachers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education be requested to provide staff support for the computer science education task force in the performance of its duties; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education be requested to help the computer science education task force develop the state strategic plan for expanding computer science education in elementary and secondary schools, including the following:

          A. a statement of purpose that describes the objectives or goals the task force will accomplish by implementing a computer science education program, the strategies by which those goals will be achieved and a time line for achieving those goals;

          B. a summary of the current state landscape for kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science education, including the diversity of students taking these courses;

          C. a plan for expanding computer science education opportunities to every school in the state within five years;

          D. a plan for the development of rigorous standards and curriculum guidelines for kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science, including ways to incorporate computer science into existing standards at the elementary school level;

          E. a plan for defining high-quality professional learning for teachers to begin teaching computer science;

          F. an ongoing evaluation process that is overseen by the task force;

          G. proposed methods that incorporate the principles of the strategic plan into the state's public education system as a whole; and

          H. a plan to ensure long-term sustainability; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that before January 17, 2020, the computer science education task force be requested to present the strategic plan to the legislative education study committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department be requested to make publicly available the strategic plan no later than February 20, 2020; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education.

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