HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS BILL #: CS/CS/HB 887 Cmputer Cding Instructin SPONSOR(S): K-12 Subcmmittee, Adkins TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: CS/SB 468 REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR r BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF 1) K-12 Subcmmittee 12 Y, 0 N, As CS 2) Educatin Apprpriatins Subcmmittee 11 Y, 0 N, As CS 3) Educatin Cmmittee Brink denagy Fudge Heflin SUMMARY ANALYSIS The bill prmtes student access t educatin in cmputer science and related fields by requiring the Higher Educatin Crdinating Cuncil t develp recmmendatins that identify, amng ther things: High schl curses in cmputer science, including cmputer cding and cmputer prgramming, which may be used t satisfy state university admissins requirements fr freign language, math, and science. Gaps in current plicy, curricula, prgrams, and practices that inhibit students frm pursuing pstsecndary educatin and careers in cmputer science and related fields. Cmmn definitins fr terms such as cmputer cding and cmputer prgramming s that stakehlders at all educatinal levels can use the terms clearly. In additin, the bill requires the Cmmissiner f Educatin t establish academic standards fr cmputer science, cding, and prgramming and identify high schl-level curses that incrprate the standards in the Curse Cde Directry. The Flrida Virtual Schl must ffer the identified curses; schl districts that d nt ffer an identified curse must prvide access t the curse thrugh the Flrida Virtual Schl r thrugh ther means. The bill requires the Department f Educatin t annually reprt t the Bard f Gvernrs and the Legislature: The curses identified in the Curse Cde Directry by the cmmissiner in accrdance with the bill. The number f students, by district, including the Flrida Virtual Schl, wh are enrlled in a curse identified in the Curse Cde Directry by the cmmissiner in accrdance with the bill. The number f individuals wh hld a valid educatr certificate in cmputer science r a related field. The bill requires the State Bard f Educatin t wrk with the Bard f Gvernrs and schl districts t develp strategies fr recruiting and supprting cmputer science teachers. Prviding the required administrative supprt and crdinatin necessary fr the cuncil t perfrm these additinal respnsibilities significantly increases the wrklad f the Office f Articulatin. The bill apprpriates ne full-time equivalent psitin and assciated salary rate and the sum f $79,326 in recurring general revenue finds t the Department f Educatin s Office f Articulatin fr these purpses. See fiscal cmments. The bill takes effect July 1, 2016. This dcument des nt reflect the intent r fficial psitin f the bill spnsr r Huse f Representatives. STORAGE NAME: h0887c.edas
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES: Present Situatin Cmputer Science and Technlgy Instructin FULL ANALYSIS I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS Public schls are required t prvide students in grades K-12 pprtunities fr learning cmputer science including, but nt limited t, cmputer cding and cmputer prgramming. 1 Such pprtunities may include: 2 Instructin regarding cmputer cding in elementary and middle schl; Instructin t develp cmputer usage and digital literacy skills in middle schl; and Curses in cmputer science, cmputer cding, and cmputer prgramming in high schl, including pprtunities t earn industry certificatins related t the curses. The law allws high schls t prvide students pprtunities t satisfy certain math and science graduatin requirements by taking cmputer science curses f sufficient rigr and earning a related industry certificatin. 3 T qualify, the curse must be in the area f cmputer science r 3D rapid prttype printing and the Cmmissiner f Educatin must identify the curse and the related industry certificatin in the Curse Cde Directry. 4 A qualifying cmputer science curse may satisfy up t ne mathematics r science curse credit, s lng as the curse is nt Algebra I r higher-level mathematics r Bilgy I r higher-level science. A qualifying 3D rapid prttype printing curse may satisfy up t tw mathematics curse credits, except fr Algebra I. 5 Currently, curses in cmputer cding are nt apprved by the State Bard f Educatin as freign language curses in the Curse Cde Directry. Rather, the curses are listed in the Career Technical Educatin Prgram and Curse Listing sectin in the Curse Cde Directry. 6 Freign Language Instructin Each district schl bard must prvide all curses required fr middle grades prmtin, high schl graduatin, and apprpriate instructin t ensure that students meet the State Bard f Educatin adpted standards in reading and ther language arts, mathematics, science, scial studies, freign languages, health and physical educatin, and the arts. 7 Students are nt required t earn credits in freign language t graduate frm high schl with a standard high schl diplma. 8 Hwever, t earn the Schlar designatin n the standard high schl diplma, a student must earn tw credits in the same freign language. 9 The Flrida Department f Educatin is required t identify the cmpetencies that students must demnstrate upn cmpleting tw credits f sequential high schl freign language instructin. 10 1 Sectin 1007.2616(1), F.S. 2 Sectin 1007.2616(1), F.S. 3 Sectin 1007.2616(3), F.S. 4 Id. 5 Id. 6 Staff f the Flrida Department f Educatin, Staff Analysis f Senate Bill 468 (2016). 7 Sectin 1003.42(1), F.S. 8 Sectin 1003.4282(3), F.S. 9 Sectin 1003.4285(1)(a)4., F.S. 10 Sectin 1007.262, F.S. STORAGE NAME: h0887c.edas PAGE: 2
Additinally, the law directs the department t identify in rule 11 the crrelatin between high schl freign language cmpetencies and the cmpetencies required f students in the FCS institutins curses. 12 Based n this crrelatin, each FCS institutin must identify the minimum number f pstsecndary credits that students must earn t demnstrate a level f cmpetence in freign language equivalent t the cmpetence f students wh cmpleted tw credits f freign language instructin in high schl. 13 The law authrizes alternative means f demnstrating freign language cmpetence. The department may specify means by which a student whse native language is nt English may demnstrate prficiency in the native language. 14 A student wh demnstrates prficiency in a native language ther than English is exempt frm the requirement t cmplete freign language curses at the secndary level r FCS level. 15 The cmpletin f a pstsecndary curse at the elementary level 2 in ne freign language r American Sign Language (ASL) is als cnsidered t demnstrate the required freign language cmpetency. 16 Additinally, FCS institutins may determine ther means by which students may demnstrate cmpletin f freign language cmpetencies. 17 A first-time-in-cllege student wh is admitted t a state university is expected t demnstrate cmpetency in a freign language r ASL equivalent t the secnd high schl level r higher (Spanish 2, French 2, etc.). 18 Students may als meet the freign language admissin requirement by demnstrating: 19 Cmpetency at the elementary 2 level in ne freign language r ASL at an undergraduate institutin; Equivalent freign language based n Credit-by-Exam Equivalencies 20 adpted by the State University System (SUS) Bard f Gvernrs (BOG); r Equivalent freign language r ASL cmpetence thrugh ther means apprved by the university. Pursuant t its cnstitutinal authrity utlined under s. 1001.705, F.S., the Bard f Gvernrs has adpted regulatins establishing baseline admissins requirements fr the SUS. In additin, the Articulatin Crdinating Cmmittee (ACC) serves as an advisry bard t the State Bard f Educatin and the BOG n pstsecndary transitin issues. The ACC reprts t the Cmmissiner f Educatin and is cmprised f the fllwing members: tw members each representing the SUS, the FCS, public career and technical educatin, public K-12 educatin, and nn-public educatin, and ne member representing students. Amng ther things, the ACC mnitrs the alignment between the exit and admissin requirements f educatin systems and makes recmmendatins fr imprving transfer f students frm ne educatin system t anther educatin system. FCS institutins and the SUS d nt recgnize cmputer cding curse credits as freign language credits. The Flrida Virtual Schl 11 Rule 6A-10.02412, F.A.C. This rule adpted by the State Bard f Educatin specifies the cmpetencies that students must demnstrate upn successful cmpletin f tw credits f secndary instructin in ne freign language. 12 Id. 13 Id. 14 Sectin 1007.262, F.S. 15 Id. 16 Rule 6A-10.02412, F.A.C. 17 Id. 18 Bard f Gvernrs Regulatin 6.002(1)(h). 19 Id. 20 Flrida Department f Educatin, Articulatin Crdinating Cmmittee Credit-by-Exam Equivalencies, available at http://www.flde.rg/cre/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/0078391-acc-cbe.pdf. STORAGE NAME: h0887c.edas PAGE: 3
The Flrida Virtual Schl (FLVS) ffers tuitin-free, nline curses t all K-12 public, private, and hme educatin students residing in Flrida. 21 The FLVS is available t students in all f Flrida s schl districts. 22 At the beginning f each schl year, district schl bards must ntify parents f high schl students f the pprtunity t take FLVS curses and ptins fr early r accelerated high schl graduatin. 23 Schl districts must prvide students at all grade levels access t FLVS curses during and after the nrmal schl day and thrugh summer schl enrllment. 24 High schl students earn credit tward graduatin fr successful cmpletin f high-schl level FLVS curses, 25 and Flrida law des nt place limits n the number f credits that a student may earn thrugh the FLVS. 26 Fr transfer purpses, credit fr curses cmpleted thrugh the FLVS must be treated the same as curses listed in the Curse Cde Directry r curses ffered by reginally accredited Flrida public schls. 27 The FLVS may enter int franchise agreements with Flrida district schl bards t prvide FLVS curses in grades K-12 at the district level. 28 Higher Educatin Crdinating Cuncil The Higher Educatin Crdinating Cuncil (HECC) was created by the Legislature in 2010 t identify unmet needs and t facilitate slutins t disputes regarding the creatin f new degree prgrams and the establishment f new institutes, campuses, r centers. 29 The HECC must act as an advisry bard t the Legislature, the State Bard f Educatin, and the BOG. Recmmendatins f the HECC must be cnsistent with the fllwing guiding principles: T achieve within existing resurces a seamless academic educatinal system that fsters an integrated cntinuum f kindergarten thrugh graduate schl educatin fr Flrida s students; T prmte cnsistent educatin plicy acrss all educatinal delivery systems, fcusing n students; T prmte substantially imprved articulatin acrss all educatinal delivery systems; T prmte a system that maximizes educatinal access and allws the pprtunity fr a highquality educatin fr all Flridians; and T prmte a system f crdinated and cnsistent transfer f credit and data cllectin fr imprved accuntability purpses between the educatinal delivery systems. 30 The HECC includes the fllwing members: One member f the Bard f Gvernrs, appinted by the chair. One member f the State Bard f Educatin, appinted by the chair. The chancellr f the Flrida Cllege System. The chancellr f the State University System. The president f Enterprise Flrida, Inc. r a designated member f the Stakehlder Cuncil appinted by the president. The executive directr f the Flrida Assciatin f Pstsecndary Schls and Clleges. The president f the Independent Clleges and Universities f Flrida. 21 Flrida Virtual Schl, Hw is FLVS Free?, available at http://www.flvs.net/pages/default.aspx (last visited Jan. 20, 2016). 22 Flrida Virtual Schl, Flrida Virtual Schl 2013-14 Legislative Reprt (2015), at 5, available at https://www.flvs.net/dcs/default-surce/district/legislative-reprt-2013-14.pdf?sfvrsn=4. 23 Sectin 1003.02(1)(i), F.S. 24 Sectins 1001.42(23) and 1003.498 F.S. 25 Sectins 1002.37(3)(a)1.-2. and 1001.42(23), F.S. 26 Sectins 1002.37(3)(c) and 1001.42(23), F.S. 27 Flrida Department f Educatin, Memrandum: Flrida Virtual Schl as a Schl Chice Optin, at 4 (Jan. 8, 2009), available at http://inf.flde.rg/dcushare/dsweb/get/dcument-5250/dps-2009-007.pdf. 28 Flrida Department f Educatin, Flrida s K-12 Virtual Educatin Optins Chart (2015), available at http://www.flde.rg/cre/fileparse.php/7509/urlt/2015-16-optins-chart.pdf. 29 Sectin 1004.015(1), F.S. 30 Sectin 1004.015(3), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h0887c.edas PAGE: 4
The President f CareerSurce Flrida, Inc. r his r her designee. Three representatives f the business cmmunity: ne appinted by the President f the Senate, ne appinted by the Speaker f the Huse f Representatives, and ne appinted by the Gvernr. Appinted members serve n the HECC fr tw years and a single chair must be annually elected by the membership by a majrity vte. 31 Effect f Prpsed Changes The bill prmtes student access t educatin in cmputer science and related fields by requiring the Higher Educatin Crdinating Cuncil (HECC) t develp recmmendatins that identify: High schl curses in cmputer science, including cmputer cding and cmputer prgramming, which may be used t satisfy state university admissins requirements fr freign language, math, and science. Cmmn academic and technical skills needed fr students t help meet prjected labr market demands in cmputer science, infrmatin technlgy, and related fields in Flrida. Hw middle and high schl students, including underrepresented and nntraditinal students, can be encuraged t pursue further studies and careers in cmputer science, infrmatin technlgy, and related fields. Secndary curse sequences which prepare students t succeed in pstsecndary educatinal prgrams in cmputer science, infrmatin technlgy, and related fields. Gaps in current plicy, curricula, prgrams, and practices that inhibit students frm pursuing pstsecndary educatin and careers in cmputer science and related fields. Apprpriate educatr qualificatins and cmputer science pedaggy t maintain technlgically current instructinal knwledge and practices in teacher preparatin prgrams. Cmmn definitins fr terms related t cmputer science, including terms such as cmputer cding and cmputer prgramming, fr cnsistent use acrss the Flrida K-20 educatin system. The HECC must reprt its recmmendatins t the Bard f Gvernrs and the Legislature by December 31, 2017. The bill requires the Cmmissiner f Educatin t establish academic standards fr cmputer science, cding, and prgramming and identify high schl-level curses that incrprate the standards in the Curse Cde Directry by June 30, 2017. The bill requires the FLVS t ffer the identified curses and requires schl districts that d nt ffer an identified curse t prvide access t the curse thrugh the FLVS r thrugh ther means. The bill requires the department t annually reprt t the Bard f Gvernrs and the Legislature: The curses identified in the Curse Cde Directry pursuant by the cmmissiner in accrdance with the bill. The number f students, by district, including the FLVS, wh are enrlled in a curse s identified. The number f individuals wh hld a valid educatr certificate in cmputer science r a related field. The bill requires the state bard t cnsult with the Bard f Gvernrs and schl districts t develp strategies fr: Recruiting qualified teachers t prvide cmputer science instructin. 31 Sectin 1004.015(5), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h0887c.edas PAGE: 5
Updating cmputer science educatr certificatin requirements. Prviding apprpriate prfessinal develpment t maintain technlgically current instructinal knwledge and practices in the schl districts. Identifying and streamlining traditinal and alternative pathways tward cmputer science educatr certificatin. If a student enrlls in an identified curse that satisfies any FCS r SUS admissin requirements fr freign language, mathematics, r science, the student may nt knw if the curse wuld satisfy similar admissin requirements at a private r ut-f-state pstsecndary institutin. Accrdingly, the bill requires the schl district in such situatins t ntify the student that he r she shuld cntact any utf-state r private pstsecndary institutin t which the student is applying and inquire whether the curse credit satisfies any f the institutin's admissins requirements. B. SECTION DIRECTORY: Sectin 1. Amends s. 1004.015, F.S.; requiring the Higher Educatin Crdinating Cuncil t make recmmendatins related t cmputer science instructin and identify certain items; requiring the Cuncil t reprt its findings and recmmendatins t the State University System Bard f Gvernrs and the Legislature. Sectin 2. Amends s. 1007.2616, F.S.; requiring the Cmmissiner f Educatin t develp certain standards and identify certain curses in the Curse Cde Directry; requiring the Flrida Virtual Schl t ffer certain curses identified by the Cmmissiner f Educatin and requiring schl districts t prvide students access t such curses; requiring the Department f Educatin t annually reprt certain infrmatin; requiring the State Bard f Educatin, the State University System Bard f Gvernrs, and schl districts t develp strategies relating t cmputer science educatr certificatin and teacher recruitment. Sectin 3. Prviding an effective date f July 1, 2016. II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT: 1. Revenues: The bill des nt appear t have a fiscal impact n state gvernment revenues. 2. Expenditures: See fiscal cmments. B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: 1. Revenues: The bill des nt appear t have a fiscal impact n lcal gvernment revenues. 2. Expenditures: The bill des nt appear t have a fiscal impact n lcal gvernment expenditures. C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR: Nne. D. FISCAL COMMENTS: STORAGE NAME: h0887c.edas PAGE: 6
Currently, there are n resurces specifically prvided t the Office f Articulatin, Flrida Department f Educatin fr the administrative supprt f the Higher Educatin Crdinating Cuncil. The bill expands the respnsibilities f the Higher Educatin Crdinating Cuncil t include develping recmmendatins and reprts, establishing academic standards, and wrking with the State Bard f Educatin, the Bard f Gvernrs and schl districts t prepare students fr pstsecndary educatin and careers in cmputer science, infrmatin technlgy and related fields. 32 Prviding the required administrative supprt and crdinatin necessary fr the cuncil t perfrm these additinal respnsibilities significantly increases the wrklad f the Office f Articulatin. The bill apprpriates ne full-time equivalent psitin and assciated salary rate and the sum f $79,326 in recurring general revenue finds t the Department f Educatin s Office f Articulatin fr these purpses. The Department f Educatin will absrb reprting requirements within existing resurces. A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: III. COMMENTS 1. Applicability f Municipality/Cunty Mandates Prvisin: Nne. 2. Other: Nne. B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY: The bill wuld require the State Bard f Educatin t update the Curse Cde Directry thrugh the rulemaking prcess. C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS: Nne. IV. AMENDMENTS/ COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES On January 20, 2016, the K-12 Subcmmittee adpted a strike all amendment and reprted the bill favrably as a cmmittee substitute. The strike all amendment: Requires the Higher Educatin Crdinating Cuncil (HECC) t prvide recmmendatins t the Bard f Gvernrs and the Legislature that identify: High schl curses in cmputer science, including cmputer cding and cmputer prgramming that may be used t satisfy state university admissins requirements fr freign language, math, and science. Cmmn academic and technical skills needed fr students t help meet prjected labr market demands in cmputer science, infrmatin technlgy, and related fields in Flrida. Hw middle and high schl students, including underrepresented and nntraditinal students, can be encuraged t pursue further studies and careers in cmputer science, infrmatin technlgy, and related fields. Secndary curse sequences which prepare students t succeed in pstsecndary educatinal prgrams in cmputer science, infrmatin technlgy, and related fields. Gaps in current plicy, curricula, prgrams, and practices that inhibit students frm pursuing pstsecndary educatin and careers in cmputer science and related fields. 32 2016 Agency Legislative Bill Analysis, Flrida Department f Educatin, January 25, 2016 STORAGE NAME: h0887c.edas PAGE: 7
Apprpriate educatr qualificatins and cmputer science pedaggy t maintain technlgically current instructinal knwledge and practices in teacher preparatin prgrams. Cmmn definitins fr terms related t cmputer science, including terms such as cmputer cding and cmputer prgramming, fr cnsistent use acrss the Flrida K-20 educatin system. Requires the Cmmissiner f Educatin t establish academic standards fr cmputer science, cding, and prgramming and identify high schl-level curses that incrprate the standards in the Curse Cde Directry. Requires the Flrida Virtual Schl t ffer the identified curses and requires schl districts that d nt ffer an identified curse t prvide access t the curse thrugh the Flrida Virtual Schl r thrugh ther means. Requires the State Bard f Educatin t wrk with the Bard f Gvernrs and schl districts t develp strategies fr recruiting and supprting cmputer science teachers. The strike all amendment eliminates the bill s requirement that state universities and Flrida Cllege System institutins accept certain cmputer cding curses as satisfying freign language admissins requirements. The amendment als eliminates the bill s requirement that districts develp and submit a cmputer cding curriculum plan. This bill analysis is drafted t the bill as amended and reprted favrably by the K-12 Subcmmittee. On February 9, 2016, the Educatin Apprpriatins Subcmmittee adpted ne amendment and reprted the bill favrably as a cmmittee substitute. The amendment apprpriates ne full-time equivalent psitin and assciated salary rate and the sum f $79,326 in recurring general revenue finds t the Department f Educatin s Office f Articulatin fr the purpses f the bill. This bill analysis is drafted t the bill as amended and reprted favrably by the Educatin Apprpriatins Subcmmittee. STORAGE NAME: h0887c.edas PAGE: 8