SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5657
As of January 17, 2022
Title: An act relating to computer science instruction in state long-term juvenile institutions.
Brief Description: Concerning computer science instruction in state long-term juvenile institutions.
Sponsors: Senators Wellman, Hunt, Gildon, Hasegawa, Mullet, Nguyen, Nobles, Rivers and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/17/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires each school district operating an institutional education program for youth in state long-term juvenile institutions to provide an opportunity to access an elective computer science course, subject to appropriations.
  • Provides that if a district cannot provide a computer science course that is fully aligned with state learning standards due to facility or technology security limitations, the district must adapt the course to align with as many standards as possible.
  • Requires each district to annually report data regarding institutional computer science courses.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Alexandra Fairfortune (786-7416)
Background:

Institutional Education.  Washington's program of basic education mandates that instruction and associated state funding be provided for school-aged students in institutional facilities.  The institutional facilities are managed and operated by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), the Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Corrections, counties, and cities, but the basic education services are generally provided by local school districts and regionally based educational service districts.


Six types of institutions receive institutional education funding, including state long-term juvenile institutions maintained by DCYF for the diagnosis, confinement, and rehabilitation of juveniles committed by the courts.  A school district conducting a program of education in a state long-term juvenile institution must provide the same courses of instruction and school related student activities as are provided to nonresidential students to the extent it is practical and judged appropriate.


Computer Science.  Computer science generally refers to the science that entails the theory and methods of processing information in computers, as well as the design of computer hardware, software, and applications.


In 2019, the Legislature instituted a requirement that beginning no later than the 2022-23 school year, each school district that operates a high school must, at a minimum, provide an opportunity to access an elective computer science course available to all high school students.  Districts may also award academic credit for computer science based on student completion of a competency examination aligned with state learning standards.
Summary of Bill:

Each school district operating an institutional education program for youth in state long-term juvenile institutions must provide an opportunity to access an elective computer science course aligned to the state learning standards for computer science or mathematics.  This requirement is subject to amounts appropriated for this purpose.


If, due to facility or technology security limitations, a school district cannot provide a computer science course fully aligned with all state computer science learning standards, the school district must adapt the course curriculum and instructional activities to align with as many standards as possible.


Each school district operating an institutional education program for youth in state long-term juvenile institutions must annually report the following information to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction:

  • data indicating the number of students who enrolled in a computer science course in the prior school year, disaggregated by gender, race, ethnicity, and age;
  • a brief description of each computer science course and whether the course is fully aligned to state computer science learning standards; and
  • a brief description of any facility or technology security limitations that prevent the school district from offering a course fully aligned with state computer science learning standards, and the actions the district is taking to address those limitations.
Appropriation: The bill contains a null and void clause requiring specific funding be provided in an omnibus appropriation act.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 11, 2022.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  In our 21st century digital economy so many of the jobs that are available with good wages and benefits require an understanding of technology and computer science.  As young people come out of school they are going to have to have this background.  Young people in institutions should have every opportunity available to them and should not have limited futures as they move forward with their educations.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Lisa Wellman, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.