Title: Computer Science Career Education Act of 2017
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Computer Science Career Education Act of 2017
This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants to consortia composed of at least one local educational agency, at least one institution of higher education (IHE), and community representatives for the development and operation of four- or six-year computer science career education programs.
Each such career education program must include the development of a computer science program for both secondary and postsecondary education that:
A program must also provide: (1) professional development for teachers, (2) career and academic counseling for students, and (3) equal access to the full range of career education programs to members of underrepresented groups and special populations.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 648 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 648

   To establish a grant program to promote the development of career 
 education programs in computer science in secondary and postsecondary 
                               education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 15, 2017

 Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a grant program to promote the development of career 
 education programs in computer science in secondary and postsecondary 
                               education.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Computer Science Career Education 
Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible 
        partnership'' means a consortium between or among at least 1 
        local educational agency, at least 1 institution of higher 
        education, and representatives of the community, including 
        nonprofit organizations, local or regional employers (including 
        State agencies) with a documented workforce need in the 
        computer science sector, workforce investment boards or other 
        entities providing employment services, regional economic 
        development organizations, industry associations, 
        representatives of labor organizations, or central labor 
        coalitions, where appropriate, and parents and students.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' means--
                    (A) an institution of higher education as defined 
                in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1001); or
                    (B) a postsecondary vocational institution as 
                defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
            (3) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (5) State educational agency.--The term ``State educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated to carry out this 
section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible partnerships to enable such partnerships to develop and 
operate a 4- or 6-year computer science career education program.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each eligible partnership that desires to 
        receive a grant under this Act shall submit an application to 
        the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) describe the eligible partners and partnership, 
                the roles and responsibilities of each partner, and a 
                demonstration of each partner's ability to support the 
                proposed program;
                    (B) describe how the eligible partnership will 
                implement a computer science career education program, 
                as described in subsection (c);
                    (C) ensure funding under the grant program is spent 
                in a coordinated manner with other local resources;
                    (D) describe the State or local workforce 
                shortages, as determined by the relevant State agency 
                in charge of workforce data, in the computer science 
                sector;
                    (E) make information, including career guidance and 
                advisement resources, available about the program;
                    (F) ensure nonduplication of the partnership's 
                development of computer science career education 
                programs;
                    (G) ensure equitable access to the program; and
                    (H) demonstrate alignment of the partnership's 
                computer science career education program to the State, 
                regional, or local computer science sector.
    (c) Content of Computer Science Career Education Program.--An 
eligible partnership that receives a grant under this Act shall use the 
grant funds to develop and operate a 4- or 6-year computer science 
career education program that--
            (1) includes the development of a computer science program 
        for both secondary education and postsecondary education that--
                    (A) is aligned with rigorous computer science 
                standards for kindergarten through grade 12 computer 
                science education;
                    (B) links secondary schools and institutions of 
                higher education through nonduplicative sequences of 
                courses in computer science career fields, including 
                the investigation of opportunities for secondary 
                students to earn postsecondary credit while enrolled in 
                secondary school, such as through credit transfer 
                agreements including dual enrollment;
                    (C) uses, if appropriate and available, 
                experiential or work-based learning in collaboration 
                with local or regional employers;
                    (D) uses educational technology and distance 
                learning, as appropriate, to involve all of the 
                partners in the eligible partnership more fully in the 
                development and operation of the program;
                    (E) aligns with the skill needs of industries in 
                the State or region; and
                    (F) creates innovative opportunities for students 
                that lead to student attainment of industry-recognized 
                credentials;
            (2) includes professional development for teachers that--
                    (A) is designed to prepare teachers to teach the 
                fundamental concepts of computer science using 
                effective teaching methods for all students;
                    (B) provides for joint training for teachers in the 
                eligible partnership, including between secondary and 
                postsecondary teachers and core academic teachers and 
                career and technical education teachers at both the 
                secondary level and postsecondary level;
                    (C) is designed to ensure that teachers and 
                administrators are aware of current career pathways and 
                the needs and expectations of business and industry;
                    (D) focuses on training postsecondary and secondary 
                education faculty in the use of contextual and applied 
                curricula and instruction; and
                    (E) if needed, ensures secondary school teachers 
                are qualified to teach postsecondary courses in the 
                secondary school according to articulation agreements;
            (3) includes career and academic counseling for the 
        students that--
                    (A) provides information to students regarding 
                available computer science career education programs;
                    (B) supports student progress in completing 
                computer science career education programs;
                    (C) provides labor market information on local, 
                State, regional, and national computer science 
                employment opportunities, such as occupation demand, 
                education requirements, and expected compensation; and
                    (D) tracks student placement in appropriate 
                employment, or transfer to an institution of higher 
                education; and
            (4) provides equal access to the full range of career 
        education programs, to individuals who are members of 
        underrepresented groups and special populations, including the 
        development of program services appropriate to the needs of 
        special populations.
    (d) Additional Authorized Activities.--An eligible partnership that 
receives a grant under this Act may use the grant funds to--
            (1) provide for the acquisition of computer equipment, 
        software, and software licenses to directly develop and support 
        a computer science program;
            (2) acquire technical assistance from State or local 
        entities that have designed, established, and operated career 
        education programs that have effectively used educational 
        technology and distance learning in the delivery of curricula 
        and services and in the articulation process; and
            (3) establish articulation agreements with institutions of 
        higher education, and cooperative agreements with labor 
        organizations, or business located inside or outside the State 
        and served by the eligible partnership, especially with regard 
        to using distance learning and educational technology to 
        provide for the delivery of services and programs.
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