Bill Text: NJ S990 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requires school district to provide information to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-06-21 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [S990 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S990-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 990

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 30, 2020

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  LORETTA WEINBERG

District 37 (Bergen)

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Turner, Corrado, Cunningham and Pou

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires school district to provide information to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended by the Senate on June 3, 2021.

  

An Act concerning computer science in public schools and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The Legislature finds and declares that:

     a.     Individuals with computing skills are among the most sought-after employees in the United States job market;

     b.    New Jersey currently has more than 15,000 open computing jobs across all industries;

     c.     Women and minorities remain underrepresented in computer science fields;

     d.    Leaving women, the sole or primary wage earner in 40 percent of American families, out of this vital workforce will have drastic effects on New Jersey's economy and competitive advantage;

     e.     New Jersey is committed to increasing the participation of females and other underrepresented students in computer science fields; and

     f.     Tracking data specific to the demographic make-up, availability, and content of computer science courses in New Jersey schools will provide insight needed to address gaps in populations that are underrepresented in computer science fields.

 

      2.   a.  ¹[On or before April 30 of each school year, a] A¹ school district shall ¹[issue a report to] provide¹ the Commissioner of Education ¹with information¹ on the computer science courses offered in the school district during the preceding school year¹[.

      b.   The report] in accordance with reporting procedures established by the commissioner pursuant to P.L.1995, c.235 (C.18A:7E-1 et seq.) that¹ shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

      (1)  the total number of computer science courses offered in each school in the district, including any advanced placement computer science courses;

      (2)  the subject matter covered in each computer science course offered;

      (3)  the total number of computer science teachers at each school in the district, including the number of computer science teachers disaggregated by gender, terminal degree, and instructional certificate endorsement; and

      (4)  the total number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science courses at each school in the district, including the number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science

courses disaggregated by gender, race and ethnicity, special education status, English language learner status, eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program, and grade level.

      ¹[c.] b.¹    The commissioner shall ¹[compile] include¹ the information ¹[reported] provided¹ by school districts pursuant to this section ¹[and post the information on the department's website no later than October 1 of each school year] in the annual report prepared and disseminated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1995, c.235 (C.18A:7E-1 et seq.)¹.

 

      3.   This act shall take effect immediately ¹and shall first be applicable to the 2021-2022 school year¹.