SF 3378

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/11/2025 09:50 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing computer science grants; requiring rulemaking;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.187, by
adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters
120B; 122A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [120B.2413] COMPUTER SCIENCE PLAN GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Plan development. new text end

new text begin (a) The Department of Education must award
competitive grants to school districts or charter schools that do not offer instruction in
computer science to develop comprehensive computer science plans. A district or charter
school must use grant funds to develop a plan that:
new text end

new text begin (1) describes how the district intends to incorporate computer science into curriculum
or course offerings in kindergarten through grade 12;
new text end

new text begin (2) identifies supports needed to enhance computer science teacher capacity, skills, and
learning; and
new text end

new text begin (3) identifies funding sources to sustain computer science offerings in future school
years.
new text end

new text begin (b) A plan may include strategies to provide leadership training, curriculum enhancement,
partnership engagement, or industry involvement to enhance computer science programs.
new text end

new text begin (c) A grant applicant must submit an application in the form and manner determined by
the commissioner. A grant recipient must submit a plan to the department by June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Plan implementation. new text end

new text begin (a) The Department of Education must award competitive
grants to school districts or charter schools to implement computer science plans that meet
the requirements for plans under subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (b) A grant applicant must submit an application in the form and manner determined by
the commissioner, and must include a copy of the plan to be implemented. The department
must prioritize grant awards for applicants that:
new text end

new text begin (1) have a plan that describes how the applicant will ensure every student in kindergarten
through grade 8 receives instruction in computer science;
new text end

new text begin (2) have a plan that describes how the applicant will ensure computer science is offered
to all high school students; or
new text end

new text begin (3) intend to use grant money to serve school sites that serve fewer than 500 students.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.187, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Computer science. new text end

new text begin The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
must adopt rules requiring all licensed teachers renewing their license under sections
122A.181 to 122A.184 to include in the renewal requirements professional development in
foundational computer science concepts.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [122A.632] COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHERS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Teacher preparation programs. new text end

new text begin (a) The Professional Educator Licensing
and Standards Board must award competitive grants to board-approved teacher preparation
program providers to establish computer science teacher licensure programs or integrate
computer science into existing teacher preparation programs that lead to initial or additional
licensure. An applicant for a grant under this section must submit an application in the form
and manner determined by the board.
new text end

new text begin (b) An application for a grant to add computer science to an existing licensure program
must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) an initial plan for integrating computer science in grade level and subject areas aligned
to state academic standards in science, mathematics, and other areas; and
new text end

new text begin (2) documentation of educator expertise in kindergarten through grade 12 computer
science aligned to the computer science benchmarks in subject standards, a computer science
license, or a plan for how teacher educators will gain that expertise.
new text end

new text begin (c) An application for a grant to establish a teacher preparation program that leads to
licensure in computer science must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a plan for submitting a request for initial program approval to the board;
new text end

new text begin (2) documentation of educator expertise in kindergarten through grade 12 computer
science aligned to the computer science license or a plan for how teacher educators will
gain that expertise;
new text end

new text begin (3) a plan for sustainability of the program after the grant period; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the number and demographics of teacher candidates impacted by the program.
new text end

new text begin (d) A teacher preparation provider that receives a grant under this section must report
to the board on the computer science content being taught in teacher preparation programs
and the number of teachers impacted.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Candidate support. new text end

new text begin (a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
Board must develop a program to support teachers earning licensure in computer science
through a portfolio or exam process. The board must also conduct a needs assessment to
understand the feasibility of a microcredential to support licensure in computer science.
new text end

new text begin (b) The program of support must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) offering a course at no cost to teachers to prepare for a board-adopted assessment in
computer science; and
new text end

new text begin (2) support for completing a portfolio to earn a license in computer science, including:
new text end

new text begin (i) a yearlong mentorship program;
new text end

new text begin (ii) quarterly meetings where applicants receive guidance on completing the portfolio
process from a portfolio liaison with computer science content expertise, dedicated
specifically to facilitating this program;
new text end

new text begin (iii) a stipend to cover substitute teachers when meetings take place during the school
day; and
new text end

new text begin (iv) a waiver for all portfolio and licensure testing fees.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; COMPUTER SCIENCE IMPLEMENTATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Computer science plan grants. new text end

new text begin (a) For grants to school districts or charter
schools to develop or implement comprehensive computer science plans in accordance with
Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.2413:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2026 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2027 new text end

new text begin (b) Of this amount, $....... is for grants for plan development under Minnesota Statutes,
section 120B.2413, subdivision 1, and $....... is for grants for plan implementation under
Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.2413, subdivision 2. The department may retain up to ...
percent to administer the grant.
new text end

new text begin (c) This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHER GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. new text end

new text begin The sums
indicated in this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Professional Educator
Licensing and Standards Board in the fiscal years designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Computer science teachers preparation programs. new text end

new text begin For grants to approved
teacher preparation program providers in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section
122A.632, subdivision 1:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2026 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2027 new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Computer science teacher support programs. new text end

new text begin To support a licensure pathway
program for computer science teachers under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.632,
subdivision 2:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 20.. new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 20.. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Computer science teacher licensure incentive. new text end

new text begin (a) To provide stipends of
$1,000 per teacher to teachers newly earning a teaching license in computer science:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 20.. new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 20.. new text end

new text begin (b) This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end