I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2590 
To authorize the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to increase 
access to prekindergarten through grade 12 computer science education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2017 
Ms. LEE (for herself, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Ms. 
CLARK of Massachusetts, Ms. DELBENE, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. GRIJALVA, 
Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. POLIS, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. TITUS, and 
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Education to carry out a 
program to increase access to prekindergarten through 
grade 12 computer science education. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Computer Science for 
All Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(1) Computer science is transforming industry, 
creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation, 
and bolstering productivity. 
(2) There are more than 520,000 computing 
jobs unfilled in the United States as of January 
2017. It is projected that there will be 1,400,000 
new jobs in the technology sector by 2020; however, 
70 percent of those jobs will be unfulfilled at the 
rate American universities are producing qualified 
graduates. 
(3) Knowledge of computer science and use of 
technology is increasingly essential for all individ-
uals, not just those working or planning to work in 
the technology sector. 
(4) Providing students with computer science 
education in elementary school and secondary school 
is critical for student success, and strengthening the 
workforce of a 21st century economy. 
(5) While an estimated 90 percent of parents 
want computer science taught in their children’s 
schools, just 25 percent of all elementary schools 
and secondary schools offer high-quality computer 
science instruction that includes programming and 
coding. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(6) African-Americans, Latinos, Native Ameri-
cans, and Pacific Islanders are disproportionately 
underrepresented in the technology sector. About 9 
percent of graduates from the Nation’s top computer 
science programs are from underrepresented minor-
ity groups. However, only 5 percent of employees at 
large tech firms belong to an underrepresented mi-
nority group 
(7) While underrepresented minority students 
overall face an opportunity gap in STEAM edu-
cation, women of color particularly face an achieve-
ment gap in science and engineering education. In 
2012, while women received 48.8 percent of all bach-
elor’s degrees in science and engineering majors, 
women of color received only 15.7 percent (Black: 
5.3 percent; Latino: 5.5 percent; Native American or 
Alaska Native: 0.3 percent, and Asian or Pacific Is-
lander: 4.6 percent). 
(8) Women overall face challenges in accessing 
computer science education. Only 18 percent of all 
bachelor’s degrees awarded in computer science in 
2012 went to women, and women of color received 
only 6.6 percent (Black: 3.0 percent; Latino: 1.7 
percent; Native American or Alaska Native: 0.1 per-
cent, and Asian or Pacific Islander: 1.8 percent). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(9) Disparities in enrollment and academic 
achievement start early. In 2016, only 23 percent of 
students taking the AP Computer Science exam 
were women, and just 16 percent were African- 
American or Latino. 
(10) Nationwide, only 88 Native American stu-
dents took the AP Computer Science exam in 2016, 
a decrease from 2015. This means that while Native 
Americans make up about 1.1 percent of the U.S. 
student population, they made up 1⁄5 of a percent of 
students who took AP Computer Science exams in 
2016. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMPUTATIONAL
THINKING.—The term 
‘‘computational thinking’’ aims to capture the wide 
range of creative processes that go into formulating 
problems and their solutions in such a way that the 
solutions can be carried out by a computer, and may 
involve some understanding of software and hard-
ware design, logic and the use of abstraction and 
representation, algorithm design, algorithm expres-
sion, problem decomposition, modularity, program-
ming paradigms and languages, issues of informa-
tion security and privacy, the application of com-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
putation across a wide range of disciplines, and the 
societal impact of computing. Programming is a 
hands-on, inquiry-based way in which computational 
thinking may be learned. 
(2) COMPUTER
SCIENCE
EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘computer science education’’ includes any of 
the following: computational thinking; software de-
sign; hardware architecture and organization; theo-
retical foundations; use of abstraction and represen-
tation in problem solving; logic; algorithm design 
and implementation; the limits of computation; pro-
gramming paradigms and languages; parallel and 
distributed computing; information security and pri-
vacy; computing systems and networks; graphics and 
visualization; databases and information retrieval; 
the relationship between computing and mathe-
matics; artificial intelligence; applications of com-
puting across a broad range of disciplines and prob-
lems; and the social impacts and professional prac-
tices of computing. 
(3) ELIGIBLE TRIBAL SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘eli-
gible Tribal school’’ means— 
(A) a school operated by the Bureau of In-
dian Education; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(B) a school operated pursuant to the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.); or 
(C) a tribally controlled school (as defined 
in section 5212 of the Tribally Controlled 
Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2511)). 
(4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 
(5) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘local educational agency’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8101). 
(6) POVERTY LINE.—The term ‘‘poverty line’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 8101). 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
(8) STEAM.—The term ‘‘STEAM’’ means the 
subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts, 
and mathematics, including computer science. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES, LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGEN-
CIES, AND ELIGIBLE TRIBAL SCHOOLS. 
(a) GRANTS
TO
STATES, LOCAL
EDUCATIONAL 
AGENCIES, AND ELIGIBLE TRIBAL SCHOOLS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to States, local educational agencies, and eli-
gible Tribal schools— 
(A) that demonstrate an ability to carry 
out an ambitious computer science education 
expansion effort for all students served by the 
State, agency, or school, including traditionally 
underrepresented students; and 
(B) to serve as models for national replica-
tion of computer science education expansion 
efforts. 
(2) CONSORTIA AND PARTNERSHIPS.—A State, 
local educational agency, or eligible Tribal school 
may apply for a grant under this section as part of 
a consortium or in partnership with a State edu-
cational agency or other partner. 
(3) DURATION.—Grants awarded under this 
section shall be for a period of not more than 5 
years. 
(b) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—A State, local 
educational agency, or eligible Tribal school that desires 
a grant under this section shall submit an application to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may require, in-
cluding, at a minimum, plans for the following: 
(1) Every high school student served by the 
State, local educational agency, or eligible Tribal 
school to have access to computer science education 
not later than 5 years after receipt of grant funds. 
(2) All students served by the State, local edu-
cational agency, or eligible Tribal school to have ac-
cess to a progression of computer science education 
from prekindergarten through middle school that 
prepares students for high school computer science 
education. 
(3) Expansion of overall access to rigorous 
STEAM classes, utilizing computer science as a cat-
alyst for increased interest in STEAM more broadly, 
and reducing the enrollment and academic achieve-
ment gap for underrepresented groups such as mi-
norities, girls, and youth from families living at, or 
below, the poverty line. 
(4) Continuous monitoring and evaluation of 
project activities. 
(5) Effectively sustaining project activities after 
the grant period ends, and the length of time which 
the applicant plans to sustain the project activities. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(c) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.— 
(1) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—A State, local edu-
cational agency, or eligible Tribal school that re-
ceives a grant under this section shall use the grant 
funds for the following activities: 
(A) Training teachers to teach computer 
science. 
(B) Expanding access to high-quality 
learning materials and online learning options. 
(C) Creating plans for expanding overall 
access to rigorous STEAM classes, utilizing 
computer science as a catalyst for increased in-
terest in STEAM more broadly, and reducing 
course equity gaps for all students, including 
underrepresented groups such as minorities, 
girls, and youth from low-income families. 
(D) Ensuring additional support and re-
sources, which may include mentoring for stu-
dents traditionally underrepresented in STEAM 
fields. 
(2) PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES.—A State, local 
educational agency, or eligible Tribal school that re-
ceives a grant under this section may use the grant 
funds for the following activities: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(A) Building effective regional collabora-
tions with industry, nonprofit organizations, 2- 
year and 4-year degree granting institutions of 
higher education (including community colleges, 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
Hispanic-serving institutions, Asian American 
and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
institutions, American Indian Tribally con-
trolled colleges and universities, Alaska Native 
and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, Pre-
dominantly Black Institutions, Native Amer-
ican-serving, Nontribal institutions, and other 
minority-serving institutions), and out-of-school 
providers. 
(B) Recruiting and hiring instructional 
personnel as needed, including curriculum spe-
cialists. 
(C) Preparations for effectively sustaining 
project activities after the grant period ends. 
(D) Disseminating information about effec-
tive practices. 
(3) LIMITATION.—Not more than 15 percent of 
a grant may be used to purchase equipment. 
(d) NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary may re-
serve not more than 2.5 percent of funds available for 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
grants under this section for national activities, including 
technical assistance, evaluation, and dissemination. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$250,000,000. 
SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) GRANTEE REPORTS.—Each State, local edu-
cational agency, and eligible Tribal school that receives a 
grant under this Act shall submit to the Secretary a re-
port, not less than twice a year during the grant period, 
on the use of grant funds that shall include data on the 
numbers of students served through activities funded 
under this Act, disaggregated by race (for Asian and Na-
tive Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students using the same 
race response categories as the decennial census of the 
population), ethnicity, gender, and eligibility to receive a 
free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.). 
(b) REPORT BY THE SECRETARY.—Not later than 5 
years after the first grant is awarded under this Act, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report based on the 
analysis of reports received under subsection (a) with a 
recommendation on how to expand the program under this 
Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:45 May 30, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2590.IH
H2590
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS