(a) The Governor shall establish a computer science education task force to develop a state strategic plan for expanding computer science education in the public schools in Alabama.
(b) The membership of the task force shall include all of the following:
(1) One member of the House of Representatives, as appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one member of the Senate, as appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(2) A representative of the board, as appointed by the board.
(3) The state computer science specialist and two additional representatives of the department, as appointed by the superintendent.
(4) A representative of the Department of Early Childhood Education, as appointed by the secretary.
(5) A representative of the Alabama Community College System, as appointed by the board of trustees of the system.
(6) A representative of the Alabama Workforce Council, as appointed by the council.
(7) A representative of the Alabama Education Association, as appointed by the executive director.
(8) A representative of the Alabama Association of School Boards, as appointed by the executive director.
(9) A representative of the School Superintendents of Alabama, as appointed by the executive director.
(10) A representative of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, as appointed by the board of directors.
(11) A representative of A Plus Education Partnership, as appointed by the board of directors.
(12) A representative of the Business Education Alliance of Alabama, as appointed by the president.
(13) The education policy advisor to the Governor.
(14) A representative of the Alabama Workforce Development Board, as appointed by the board.
(15) Two geographically and sector diverse industry representatives, including individuals with software and computer science specific focus, as appointed by the Governor.
(16) A representative of Alabama historically black colleges and universities, as appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
(17) Two representatives from four-year colleges and universities, as appointed by the Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
(18) One teacher leader from a statewide association representing computer science teachers and three computer science teachers with representation from the grade bands of high school, middle school, and elementary school, as appointed by the superintendent.
(19) Two curriculum and professional development providers, as appointed by the superintendent.
(20) Other representatives as determined by the Governor.
(c) All appointing authorities shall coordinate their appointments so that diversity of gender, race, and geographical areas is reflective of the makeup of this state. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation. The expenses of members who are legislators may be paid out of any funds appropriated to the Legislature or out of any funds appropriated for joint interim committees of the Legislature, but in the amounts as if they were performing legislative duties.
(d) The superintendent, in consultation with the task force, shall develop a state strategic plan for a statewide computer science education initiative including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A statement of purpose that describes the objectives or goals the department desires to accomplish by implementing a computer science education initiative, the strategies by which those goals shall be achieved, and a timeline for achieving those goals.
(2) A summary of the current state landscape for K-12 computer science education, including metrics on the diversity of students taking those courses.
(3) A plan for expanding computer science education opportunities to every school in the state within five years as provided in Section 16-46B-2.
(4) A plan for the development of rigorous standards and curriculum guidelines for K-12 computer science, including ways to incorporate computer science into existing standards at the elementary school level, as appropriate.
(5) A plan for defining high quality computer science professional learning for preservice teachers and inservice teachers seeking a computer science endorsement or course specific permit, as provided in Section 16-46B-6.
(6) An ongoing evaluation process of the computer science initiative that is overseen by the superintendent in consultation with the task force.
(7) Proposed rules that incorporate the principles of the state strategic plan for computer science education into the public education system of the state.
(8) A plan to ensure long term sustainability of the computer science initiative.
(9) A plan for the task force to annually review and make recommendations to the superintendent for approved computer science professional learning to satisfy requirements for the computer science permit.
(e) On or before December 31, 2019, the superintendent, after consultation with the task force, shall present the state strategic plan for computer science education to the Chair of the House Education Policy Committee and the Chair of the Senate Education Policy Committee.
(f) The task force shall perpetuate after the deadline provided in subsection (e), at the pleasure of the Governor, for the purposes of carrying out subdivision (6) of subsection (d). Members of the task force shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor after the deadline provided in subsection (e).
(g) The superintendent shall implement this chapter within the department, including the development and implementation of the state strategic plan for computer science education.
Last modified: May 3, 2021