Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Turner, Corrado, Cunningham, Pou and Singleton
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.