Computer Science Career Education Act of 2015
This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants to consortia composed of at least one local educational agency, at least one institution of higher education (IHE), and community representatives for the development and operation of four- or six-year computer science career education programs.
Each such career education program must include the development of a computer science program for both secondary and postsecondary education that:
A program must also provide: (1) professional development for teachers, (2) career and academic counseling for students, and (3) equal access to the full range of career education programs to members of underrepresented groups and special populations.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2056 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2056
To establish a grant program to promote the development of career
education programs in computer science in secondary and postsecondary
education.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 28, 2015
Mr. Caardenas (for himself, Mr. Cartwright, Mrs. Lawrence, Ms. DelBene,
Mr. Honda, Ms. Slaughter, and Mr. Fattah) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program to promote the development of career
education programs in computer science in secondary and postsecondary
education.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Computer Science Career Education
Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible
partnership'' means a consortium between or among at least 1
local educational agency, at least 1 institution of higher
education, and representatives of the community, including
nonprofit organizations, local or regional employers (including
State agencies) with a documented workforce need in the
computer science sector, workforce investment boards or other
entities providing employment services, regional economic
development organizations, industry associations,
representatives of labor organizations, or central labor
coalitions, where appropriate, and parents and students.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' means--
(A) an institution of higher education as defined
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001); or
(B) a postsecondary vocational institution as
defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
(3) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(5) State educational agency.--The term ``State educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated to carry out this
section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible partnerships to enable such partnerships to develop and
operate a 4- or 6-year computer science career education program.
(b) Application.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership that desires to
receive a grant under this Act shall submit an application to
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall--
(A) describe the eligible partners and partnership,
the roles and responsibilities of each partner, and a
demonstration of each partner's ability to support the
proposed program;
(B) describe how the eligible partnership will
implement a computer science career education program,
as described in subsection (c);
(C) ensure funding under the grant program is spent
in a coordinated manner with other local resources;
(D) describe the State or local workforce
shortages, as determined by the relevant State agency
in charge of workforce data, in the computer science
sector;
(E) make information, including career guidance and
advisement resources, available about the program;
(F) ensure non-duplication of the partnership's
development of computer science career education
programs;
(G) ensure equitable access to the program; and
(H) demonstrate alignment of the partnership's
computer science career education program to the State,
regional, or local computer science sector.
(c) Content of Computer Science Career Education Program.--An
eligible partnership that receives a grant under this Act shall use the
grant funds to develop and operate a 4- or 6-year computer science
career education program that--
(1) includes the development of a computer science program
for both secondary education and postsecondary education that--
(A) is aligned with rigorous computer science
standards for kindergarten through grade 12 computer
science education;
(B) links secondary schools and institutions of
higher education through non-duplicative sequences of
courses in computer science career fields, including
the investigation of opportunities for secondary
students to earn postsecondary credit while enrolled in
secondary, such as through credit transfer agreements
including dual enrollment;
(C) uses, if appropriate and available,
experiential or work-based learning in collaboration
with local or regional employers;
(D) uses educational technology and distance
learning, as appropriate, to involve all of the
partners in the eligible partnership more fully in the
development and operation of the program;
(E) aligns with the skill needs of industries in
the State or region; and
(F) creates innovative opportunities for students
that lead to student attainment of industry-recognized
credentials;
(2) includes professional development for teachers that--
(A) is designed to prepare teachers to teach the
fundamental concepts of computer science using
effective teaching methods for all students;
(B) provides for joint training for teachers in the
eligible partnership, including between secondary and
postsecondary teachers and core academic teachers and
career and technical education teachers at both the
secondary level and postsecondary level;
(C) is designed to ensure that teachers and
administrators are aware of current career pathways and
the needs and expectations of business and industry;
(D) focuses on training postsecondary and secondary
education faculty in the use of contextual and applied
curricula and instruction; and
(E) if needed, ensures secondary school teachers
are qualified to teach postsecondary courses in the
secondary school according to articulation agreements;
(3) includes career and academic counseling for the
students that--
(A) provides information to students regarding
available computer science career education programs;
(B) supports student progress in completing
computer science career education programs;
(C) provides labor market information on local,
State, regional, and national computer science
employment opportunities, such as occupation demand,
education requirements, and expected compensation; and
(D) tracks student placement in appropriate
employment, or transfer to an institution of higher
education; and
(4) provides equal access to the full range of career
education programs, to individuals who are members of
underrepresented groups and special populations, including the
development of program services appropriate to the needs of
special populations.
(d) Additional Authorized Activities.--An eligible partnership that
receives a grant under this Act may use the grant funds to--
(1) provide for the acquisition of computer equipment,
software, and software licenses to directly develop and support
a computer science program;
(2) acquire technical assistance from State or local
entities that have designed, established, and operated career
education programs that have effectively used educational
technology and distance learning in the delivery of curricula
and services and in the articulation process; and
(3) establish articulation agreements with institutions of
higher education, and cooperative agreements with labor
organizations, or business located inside or outside the State
and served by the eligible partnership, especially with regard
to using distance learning and educational technology to
provide for the delivery of services and programs.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
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