BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 728
	By: Guerra et al. (Hinojosa)
	Education
	5/2/2017
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Despite the importance of computer science in education and industry, current public school computer science courses often do not count toward a student's required coursework nor do they meet entrance requirements for college. H.B. 728 seeks to address this issue through the establishment of an advanced computer science program for high school students.

 

H.B. 728 would require the State Board of Education to develop and implement an Advanced Computer Science Program under which students could complete an advanced mathematics or advanced computer science course. Under the program created by the bill, school districts would implement rigorous standards, developed by the State Board of Education, for computer science courses focused on the creation and use of software and computing technologies.

 

H.B. 728 amends current law relating to the establishment by the State Board of Education of an advanced computer science program for high school students.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Education and the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 28.018, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, by adding Section 28.018, as follows:

 

Sec. 28.018. ADVANCED COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM. (a) Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) by rule to develop and implement a program under which:

 

(1) students in participating school districts may comply with the curriculum requirements for an advanced mathematics credit under Section 28.025(b-1)(2) (relating to requiring the students to successfully complete three credits in mathematics) or an advanced science credit under Section 28.025(b-1)(3) (relating to requiring the students to successfully complete three credits in science) by successfully completing an advanced computer science course; and

 

(2) participating school districts implement rigorous standards, as developed by SBOE, for advanced computer science courses that are focused on the creation and use of software and computing technologies.

 

(b) Requires the commissioner of education to adopt rules as necessary to administer this section.

 

SECTION 2. Requires SBOE to establish the program under Section 28.018, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2018, for implementation during the 2018-2019 school year.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.