AN ACT Relating to expanding computer science education; amending RCW 28A.660.045 and 28A.660.050; adding a new section to chapter 28A.188 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.410 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.188 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The computer science and education grant program, known as the CS and E program, is created to address Washington's shortage of computer science professionals. The CS and E program is intended to train and credential teachers in computer science, introduce students to and engage them in computer science, and provide and upgrade technology needed to learn computer science. The source of funds for the program must be a combination of private contributions and state matching funds.

(2)(a) The CS and E program has three components: A computer science frontiers grant, a computer science educator training grant, and a computer science technology grant. To the extent possible, the computer science learning standards adopted by the office of the superintendent of public instruction in section 2 of this act must be used in implementing these grants.

(b) The computer science frontiers grant is intended to support innovative ways to introduce and engage students from historically underrepresented groups, including girls, low-income students, and minority students, to computer science and inspire them to enter computer science careers. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall award grants to schools, school districts, educational service districts, or nonprofit organizations under the frontiers grant program to applicants on a competitive basis. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall select grant recipients from applicants that meet all of the following criteria:

(i) Demonstrate engaged and committed leadership in support of introducing historically underrepresented students to computer science;

(ii) Demonstrate a plan to engage historically underrepresented students with computer science;

(iii) Demonstrate that staff are appropriately trained to carry out the plan;

(iv) Demonstrate capacity to maximize the use of grant resources by addressing: Availability of appropriate physical space and technology, projected enrollment, and other specific requirements set forth by the superintendent of public instruction;

(v) Demonstrate a history of successful partnerships within the community and partner support for computer science. Partner support may include: Supplying materials or technology, instruction support, internships, mentorships, and apprenticeships; and

(vi) Demonstrate capacity to continue in the years succeeding the initial grant year.

(c) The computer science educator training grant is intended to support professional development for educators to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to teach computer science, either as a stand-alone course or integrated into other courses. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall award training grants to educators, schools, school districts, educational service districts, and nonprofit organizations on a competitive basis. Grant recipients must demonstrate a plan for professional development for educators to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to teach computer science, either as a stand-alone course or integrated into other courses. Grant funds must be allocated on a one-time basis and may be used to fund professional development and training related to computer science education.

(d) The computer science technology grant is intended to support schools and school districts in purchasing or upgrading technology needed for computer science courses and to support allowable costs associated with effective implementation and use of the technology purchases, such as substitute teacher or training costs. In awarding grants, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall give priority to schools and districts with substantial enrollment of low-income or underrepresented or rural students and without adequate technology to offer computer science courses.

 (3)(a) The computer science and education grant matching account is created in the custody of the state treasurer as a nonappropriated account to be used solely and exclusively for the program created in this section. The purpose of the account is to provide matching funds for the computer science frontiers grant, the computer science educator training grant, and the computer science technology grant.

(b) Revenues to the account shall consist of appropriations by the legislature into the account and any gifts, grants, or donations received by the office of the superintendent of public instruction for this purpose. 

(c) No expenditures from the account may be made except upon receipt of proof, by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, of private contributions to the computer science and education grant program. Expenditures, in the form of matching funds, may not exceed the total amount of private contributions.

(d) Only the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. Authorization shall be made as soon as practicable following receipt of proof as required under subsection (3)(c) of this section.

(4) The superintendent of public instruction may adopt criteria or processes as appropriate for the review of grant proposals.

(5) The office of the superintendent of public instruction may accept gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources for the program and may spend any gifts, grants, or endowments or income from public or private sources according to their terms.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:

Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt computer science learning standards developed by a nationally recognized computer science education organization.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:

The professional educator standards board shall, in its regular review and revision of teacher certification standards as required by RCW 28A.410.210, develop standards for a K-12 computer science endorsement. Standards related to computer science shall be adopted by January 15, 2016. The revised standards shall be aligned with the computer science learning standards developed by a nationally recognized computer science education organization and updated to include the standards adopted by the office of the superintendent of public instruction under section 2 of this act. In addition to appropriate computer science content, the computer science endorsement standards must facilitate dual endorsement in computer science and mathematics or science, or another related endorsement in high demand as indicated by a school district.

Sec. 4.  RCW 28A.660.045 and 2007 c 396 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The educator retooling ((to teach mathematics and science)) conditional scholarship program is created. Participation is limited to current K-12 teachers and individuals having an elementary education certificate but who are not employed in positions requiring an elementary education certificate. It is anticipated that candidates enrolled in this program will complete the requirements for ((a mathematics or science))an endorsement((, or both,)) in two years or less.

(2) Entry requirements for candidates include:

(a) Current K-12 teachers shall pursue ((a middle level mathematics or science, or secondary mathematics or science))an endorsement in a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board.

(b) Individuals having an elementary education certificate but who are not employed in positions requiring an elementary education certificate shall pursue an endorsement in ((middle level mathematics or science only))a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board.

Sec. 5.  RCW 28A.660.050 and 2012 c 229 s 507 are each amended to read as follows:

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for these purposes, the conditional scholarship programs in this chapter are created under the following guidelines:

(1) The programs shall be administered by the student achievement council. In administering the programs, the council has the following powers and duties:

(a) To adopt necessary rules and develop guidelines to administer the programs;

(b) To collect and manage repayments from participants who do not meet their service obligations; and

(c) To accept grants and donations from public and private sources for the programs.

(2) Requirements for participation in the conditional scholarship programs are as provided in this subsection (2).

(a) The alternative route conditional scholarship program is limited to interns of professional educator standards board-approved alternative routes to teaching programs under RCW 28A.660.040. For fiscal year 2011, priority must be given to fiscal year 2010 participants in the alternative route partnership program. In order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:

(i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment in alternative certification routes through a professional educator standards board-approved program;

(ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of the alternative route certification program and receipt of a residency teaching certificate; and

(iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed eight thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the alternative route certification program in which the recipient is enrolled. The council may adjust the annual award by the average rate of resident undergraduate tuition and fee increases at the state universities as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

(b) The pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program is limited to qualified paraeducators as provided by RCW 28A.660.042. In order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:

(i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment at a community and technical college for no more than two years and attain an associate of arts degree;

(ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of an associate of arts degree. This progress requirement is a condition for eligibility into a route one program of the alternative routes to teacher certification program for a mathematics, special education, or English as a second language endorsement; and

(iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed four thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the alternative route certification program in which the recipient is enrolled. The student achievement council may adjust the annual award by the average rate of tuition and fee increases at the state community and technical colleges.

(c) The educator retooling ((to teach mathematics and science)) conditional scholarship program is limited to current K-12 teachers. In order to receive conditional scholarship awards:

(i) Individuals currently employed as teachers shall pursue ((a middle level mathematics or science, or secondary mathematics or science))an endorsement in a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board; or

(ii) Individuals who are certificated with an elementary education endorsement shall pursue an endorsement in ((middle level mathematics or science, or both))a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board; and

(iii) Individuals shall use one of the pathways to endorsement processes to receive ((a mathematics or science endorsement, or both))an endorsement in a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board, which shall include passing ((a mathematics or science))an endorsement test((, or both tests,)) plus observation and completing applicable coursework to attain the proper endorsement; and

(iv) Individuals shall receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed three thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, test fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the endorsement pathway being pursued.

(3) The Washington professional educator standards board shall select individuals to receive conditional scholarships. In selecting recipients, preference shall be given to eligible veterans or national guard members.

(4) For the purpose of this chapter, a conditional scholarship is a loan that is forgiven in whole or in part in exchange for service as a certificated teacher employed in a Washington state K-12 public school. The state shall forgive one year of loan obligation for every two years a recipient teaches in a public school. Recipients who fail to continue a course of study leading to residency teacher certification or cease to teach in a public school in the state of Washington in their endorsement area are required to repay the remaining loan principal with interest.

(5) Recipients who fail to fulfill the required teaching obligation are required to repay the remaining loan principal with interest and any other applicable fees. The student achievement council shall adopt rules to define the terms for repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, and deferments.

(6) The student achievement council may deposit all appropriations, collections, and any other funds received for the program in this chapter in the future teachers conditional scholarship account authorized in RCW 28B.102.080.

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