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HOUSE BILL NO. 759
INTRODUCED BY E. KERR-CARPENTER
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A DIGITAL LITERACY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE COORDINATOR AT THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION; CREATING A COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM; PROVIDING THE COORDINATOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES; DEFINING ENTITIES ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT AWARDS; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Digital literacy and computer science coordinator. (1) There is a digital literacy and computer science coordinator at the office of public instruction. The coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing a computer science initiative for public schools.
(2) The coordinator shall provide leadership and technical support for preschool through postsecondary education efforts to develop, implement, and sustain high-quality and effective digital literacy and computer science learning for all students in Montana.
(3) The primary responsibilities for the position include:
(a) supporting the development and implementation of K-12 digital literacy and computer science standards;
(b) creating and curating guidance and instructional materials for standards-based model curriculum development;
(c) providing for professional learning development and delivery in person and through the office of public instruction's teacher learning hub;
(d) providing technical assistance to Montana schools and educational organizations that support curriculum, instruction, and assessment development for digital literacy and computer science; and
(e) responding to a wide variety of inquiries related to content standards and instruction.
(4) The coordinator is responsible for awarding, administering, and managing professional development grants provided for in [section 2].
(5) The coordinator may award and administer grants to school districts that may be used to provide incentives to educators to earn a computer science endorsement.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Computer science professional development grants. (1) The office of public instruction shall award computer science professional development grants to eligible entities. The grants must be used to have educators participate in high-quality professional development and training and may be used to provide incentives to educators to earn a computer science endorsement.
(2) The entities that are eligible for a grant under this section are:
(a) a school district;
(b) a consortium of school districts;
(c) a postsecondary institution, as defined in 20-26-603; and
(d) a professional development provider approved by the office of public instruction to award renewal units.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Appropriation. (1) There is appropriated $250,000 from the general fund to the office of public instruction for the biennium beginning July 1, 2019, for the purposes of [sections 1 and 2].
(2) From the appropriation in subsection (1), at least $100,000 must be spent on grants made pursuant to [sections 1 and 2] for computer science professional development and training for teachers.
(3) The legislature intends that the appropriation in subsection (1) be considered as part of the ongoing base for the next legislative session.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 7, part 12, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 7, part 12, apply to [sections 1 and 2].
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2019.
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Latest Version of HB 759 (HB0759.01)
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