103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1631

 

Introduced 2/1/2023, by Rep. Daniel Didech

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-23.15

    Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, subject to appropriation, shall establish a program that awards grants to eligible school districts to support computer science education professional development. Provides for how grant funds may be used. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications to receive a grant under this program and funds shall be distributed annually. Sets forth criteria for applying for and awarding grants. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately.


LRB103 25290 RJT 51635 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1631LRB103 25290 RJT 51635 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527-23.15 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-23.15)
7    Sec. 27-23.15. Computer science.
8    (a) In this Section: ,
9     "Computer computer science" means the study of computers,
10and algorithms, and the development of new technologies,
11including their principles, their hardware and software
12designs, their implementation, and their impact on society.
13"Computer science" does not include the study of everyday uses
14of computers and computer applications, such as keyboarding or
15accessing the Internet.
16    "Computer science education professional development"
17means computer science training programs for licensed staff in
18schools, including, but not limited to, programs that assist
19in implementing new curriculum programs, provide data focused
20or academic assessment data training to help staff identify a
21student's weaknesses and strengths, target interventions,
22improve instruction, encompass instructional strategies for
23English learner, gifted, or at-risk students, address

 

 

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1inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, or implicit bias, or
2otherwise provide professional support for licensed staff.
3    (b) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the school
4board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9
5through 12 shall provide an opportunity for every high school
6student to take at least one computer science course aligned
7to rigorous learning standards of the State Board of
8Education.
9    (c) The State Board of Education, subject to
10appropriation, shall establish a program that awards grants to
11eligible school districts to support computer science
12education professional development. Grant funds may be used to
13provide computer science education professional development by
14any entity approved to provide professional development
15activities pursuant to subsection (g) of Section 21B-45 of
16this Code.
17    Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education
18shall annually disseminate a request for applications to
19receive a grant under this program, and funds shall be
20distributed annually. The criteria to be considered by the
21State Board of Education in awarding grants shall be whether a
22school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 has a
23demonstrated shortage of teachers to provide every high school
24student an opportunity to take at least one course aligned to
25the State Board of Education's learning standards for computer
26science.

 

 

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1    In distributing grant funds under this subsection (c), the
2following applications shall have priority:
3        (1) applications from school districts designated as
4    Tier 1 or Tier 2 under Section 18-8.15;
5        (2) applications from school districts that are
6    working in partnership with providers of high-quality
7    professional learning for K-12 computer science;
8        (3) applications from school districts that describe
9    strategies to enroll female students, students from
10    marginalized racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in
11    computer science, students eligible for free or
12    reduced-price meals, students with disabilities, and
13    English learners; and
14        (4) applications from rural or urban school districts
15    with a low penetration of K-12 computer science offerings,
16    including school districts that partner together to form
17    cooperatives for implementation.
18    (d) Grants awarded under subsection (c) may be used for:
19        (1) professional learning supportive of the State
20    Board of Education's learning standards for computer
21    science;
22        (2) credentialing costs and fees associated with K-12
23    computer science teacher endorsements, including career
24    and technical education and academic supplemental
25    endorsements;
26        (3) supporting K-12 computer science classroom

 

 

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1    teaching and program administration, including mentoring
2    and coaching;
3        (4) creating resources to support computer science
4    education implementation;
5        (5) student recruitment, including promotional
6    materials; and
7        (6) planning and coordination efforts for cooperative
8    programs that are a partnership among school districts.
9    (e) To apply for a grant under subsection (c), a school
10district shall submit an application addressing, at a minimum,
11how the district will:
12        (1) reach new and existing teachers with little to no
13    computer science background;
14        (2) use research or evidence-based practices for
15    high-quality professional development;
16        (3) focus the professional learning on the conceptual
17    foundations of computer science;
18        (4) reach and support marginalized racial and ethnic
19    groups underrepresented in computer science;
20        (5) provide teachers who have concrete experience with
21    hands-on, inquiry-based practices;
22        (6) accommodate the particular teacher and student
23    needs in the district and each school; and
24        (7) ensure that the district begins offering the
25    course or content within the same or next school year
26    after the teacher receives the professional learning.

 

 

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1    A school district's application must provide for an
2allocation of funds for the purpose of evaluating the school
3district's computer science programming, which must include,
4at a minimum:
5            (A) indicators for equity related to access and
6        successful completion;
7            (B) postsecondary college and career placement;
8        and
9            (C) program quality.
10    (f) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules
11necessary for implementation of the grant program established
12under subsection (c).
13(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.