RS 17:187.3

§187.3. Computer Science Education Advisory Commission; establishment, members, and purpose A.(1) The Computer Science Education Advisory Commission, referred to in this Subpart as the "advisory commission", is established to provide recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education through the state Department of Education for the development and implementation of a state action plan for the delivery of education in computer science in all public schools. (2) The advisory commission shall be composed of the following members: (a) One member appointed by the governor. (b) One member appointed by the president of the Senate. (c) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives. (d) The state superintendent of education or his designee. (e) A member of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education appointed by the board president. (f) The commissioner of higher education or his designee. (g) A member of the Board of Regents appointed by the board president. (h) The executive director of the Louisiana Office of Student and Financial Assistance or his designee. (i) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or his designee. (j) The president of the Louisiana State University System or his designee. (k) The president of the University of Louisiana System or his designee. (l) The president of the Southern University System or his designee. (m) The secretary of Louisiana Works or his designee. (n) The secretary of Louisiana Economic Development or his designee. (o) A computer science professor appointed by the commissioner of higher education. (p) A public high school computer science teacher appointed by the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association. (q) A public middle school computer science teacher appointed by the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association. (r) A public elementary school computer science teacher appointed by the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association. (s) A superintendent of a public school system appointed by the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. (t) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools or his designee. (u) The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association or his designee. (v) The chairmen of the Senate and House committees on education or their designees. (w) The president of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities or his designee. (3) The members shall serve without compensation, except for per diem or reimbursement of expenses to which they may be entitled as members of the constituent organizations. (4) The state superintendent of education shall call an organizational meeting of the advisory commission by August 15, 2022. The advisory commission shall elect a chairman and any other officers deemed necessary from among the membership at such meeting. Thereafter, the advisory commission shall meet upon call of the chairman. (5) A majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum of the advisory commission, and any official action taken by the advisory commission shall require an affirmative vote of the majority of the quorum present and voting. (6) The state Department of Education shall provide staff support for the advisory commission. (7) The advisory commission shall cease to exist on December 1, 2024, unless the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education provides for the continued existence of the advisory commission through the board's rules and procedures. The board shall inform the Louisiana State Law Institute of termination or continuation of the advisory commission. B. The commission shall work with: (1) Public elementary and secondary education administrators and teachers to identify the gaps between computer science education services currently provided and those needed in both the near- and long-term and possible reasons for such gaps. (2) Faculty members in teacher education programs at postsecondary education institutions and current computer science teachers to identify: (a) Appropriate computer science education teacher competencies. (b) Acceptable approaches for current classroom teachers to develop the competencies. (c) Whether there is a need to create professional development programs to assist current teachers in developing needed computer science education competencies. (d) Methods to recruit and retain computer science teachers. (3) Business leaders and postsecondary education institutions to identify computer science workforce needs and the skills postsecondary students need to successfully navigate postsecondary computer science programs. C. By December 1, 2023, the advisory commission shall provide a report to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on recommendations and items to be addressed in a statewide plan for computer science. At a minimum, the report shall address the following items: (1) State content standards in computer science for grades kindergarten through twelve. (2) Coordination of computer science education between elementary and secondary schools, postsecondary education institutions, and the workforce. (3) Any computer science requirements for high school graduation, postsecondary entrance, and eligibility for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. (4) Standardized computer science teacher training, including certification requirements, preservice training programs, and professional development activities. (5) Technical assistance grants to public schools needed for the creation and expansion of computer science courses. (6) Funding strategies for computer science teacher training and expansion of computer science courses offered in public schools. Acts 2022, No. 541, §1, eff. June 17, 2022.