Bill > AB887

This bill establishes the California Computer Science Demonstration Grant Program to increase computer science education access in high schools, particularly for underrepresented and low-income students. The program will create a working group including nonprofit organizations and industry stakeholders to administer a pilot program targeting public high schools that currently do not offer computer science courses. Only schools without existing computer science courses can voluntarily participate, with selection prioritizing geographic diversity and schools serving students from low-income backgrounds or underrepresented groups in computer science. The program will be funded through private contributions and gifts, not state funds, and will support activities like educator recruitment, professional development, examination costs, and incentives for schools and teachers. The funding entities must submit an interim report by August 1, 2027, and a final report by July 1, 2028, detailing student enrollment data, equity and access information, and recommendations for program expansion. Additionally, the bill requires the California Department of Education to publicly post detailed computer science course enrollment data annually, broken down by various student demographics. The grant program is set to be repealed on January 1, 2029, making it a time-limited pilot initiative aimed at addressing the significant gaps in computer science education across California's high schools.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB887