If you are the sponsor or co-sponsor of this bill, please feel free to comment below about what the reviewer’s comments are.
Bill Details: SB0107: Computer Science Initiative For Public Schools
Sponsor: Sen Howard Stephenson, Co-Sponsor: Rep Bradley Last
Bill Summary:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines terms;
14 ▸ creates the computer science initiative for public schools;
15 ▸ requires the STEM Action Center Board and the State Board of Education to
16 collaborate to develop and implement the initiative by:
17 • creating an online repository of computer science instructional resources;
18 • providing for professional development on teaching computer science; and
19 • selecting one or more providers, through a request for proposals process, to
20 provide a comprehensive computer coding instructional software solution;
21 ▸ specifies criteria for a school district or charter school to participate in certain
22 elements of the initiative;
23 ▸ provides for review and evaluation of the initiative; and
24 ▸ requires the STEM Action Center Board and the State Board of Education to
25 annually report on the initiative to the Education Interim Committee.
26 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
27 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2016:
Reviewer Name: Brent Jacox, Rating: Oppose
Reviewer Comments:
The bill as written sounds like a very good idea and I think it is. The implementation of it sounds a little more unsure. The bill proposes to spend 2.07 Million dollars of which 1.5 is designated to be spent on software purchase. The people who will decide this are: “On behalf of the board, the staff of the board and the staff of the State Board of Education shall collaborate and select one or more providers”. I think more participation should be provided with this type of decision. Has the question been asked what is the best means for getting computer science technology into the schools? Is this just another bill that is earmarked for a given company?
Here is my main reason for opposition. The way computer education is disseminated today is with many authors providing online blogs that freely describe how to do various aspects of computer programming. One organization (code.org) in particular is designed to get programming into schools with the use of local professionals who want to volunteer their time. I think this fits Utah’s model very well and it does not have the high to purchase and maintain software. They have already received funding from companies like Microsoft and Google who benefit directly from this type of en-devour. I would think that the money would be better spent by first checking with what is already available and then letting the the local districts and schools bubble up great ideas instead of the always doing the top down approach.
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Past Comments
Comment by Morgan Olsen (February 19, 2015 at 2:57 pm)
Rating: Strongly Oppose
State created curriculum violates the principle of local control.