1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing computer science standards;amending Minnesota 
1.3 	Statutes 2024, sections 120B.021, subdivisions 2, 3, by adding a subdivision; 
1.4 	120B.241, subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.021, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.7 	to read:
1.8 		Subd. 1b.Computer science. A district is encouraged to adopt local computer science 
1.9 	standards aligned with the computer science framework developed by the Department of 
1.10 	Education. A district may adopt the computer science standards developed by the Department 
1.11 	of Education when the standards are available.

1.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.021, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.13 		Subd. 2.Standards development. (a) The commissioner must consider advice from at 
1.14 	least the following stakeholders in developing statewide rigorous core academic standards 
1.15 	in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, including history, geography, 
1.16 	economics, government and citizenship, health, computer science, and the arts:
1.17 	(1) parents of school-age children and members of the public throughout the state;
1.18 	(2) teachers throughout the state currently licensed and providing instruction in language 
1.19 	arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health, or the arts and licensed elementary and 
1.20 	secondary school principals throughout the state currently administering a school site;
1.21 	(3) currently serving members of local school boards and charter school boards throughout 
1.22 	the state;
2.1 	(4) faculty teaching core subjects at postsecondary institutions in Minnesota;
2.2 	(5) representatives of the Minnesota business community;
2.3 	(6) representatives from the Tribal Nations Education Committee and Tribal Nations 
2.4 	and communities in Minnesota, including both Anishinaabe and Dakota; and
2.5 	(7) current students, with input from the Minnesota Youth Council.
2.6 	(b) Academic standards must:
2.7 	(1) be clear, concise, objective, measurable, and grade-level appropriate;
2.8 	(2) not require a specific teaching methodology or curriculum; and
2.9 	(3) be consistent with the Constitutions of the United States and the state of Minnesota.

2.10 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.021, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.11 		Subd. 3.Rulemaking. (a) The commissioner, consistent with the requirements of this 
2.12 	section and section 120B.022, must adopt statewide rules under section 14.389 for 
2.13 	implementing statewide rigorous core academic standards in language arts, mathematics, 
2.14 	science, social studies, physical education, and the arts.
2.15 	(b) The commissioner must adopt statewide rules for implementing statewide rigorous 
2.16 	core academic standards in health.
2.17 	(c) The commissioner is not required to adopt statewide rules for computer science 
2.18 	standards.

2.19 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.241, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.20 		Subd. 2.Computer science education supervisor. The Department of Education must 
2.21 	employ a computer science supervisor dedicated to:
2.22 	(1) the implementation of this section and the implementation of the computer science 
2.23 	education strategic plan developed by the working group under subdivision 3;
2.24 	(2) outreach to districts that need additional supports to create or advance their computer 
2.25 	science programs, including guidance on adopting and using the computer science framework 
2.26 	under subdivision 8; and
2.27 	(3) supporting districts in using existing and available resources for districts to create 
2.28 	and advance their computer science programs.

3.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.241, is amended by adding a subdivision 
3.2 	to read:
3.3 		Subd. 8.Framework. By July 1, 2026, the Department of Education must adopt a 
3.4 	computer science framework to guide districts' development and implementation of computer 
3.5 	science education in kindergarten through grade 12. The framework must:
3.6 	(1) define computer science and identify skills computer science instruction should 
3.7 	include at different grade levels;
3.8 	(2) provide guidance to districts on how to implement the framework; and
3.9 	(3) recommend teaching practices on how to reduce barriers to access, participation, 
3.10 	and experience in computer science classes including ensuring curriculum and course content 
3.11 	is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

3.12 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.241, is amended by adding a subdivision 
3.13 	to read:
3.14 		Subd. 9.Plan implementation. By July 1, 2027, the Department of Education must 
3.15 	develop a plan to increase awareness of the computer science state strategic plan throughout 
3.16 	implementation of the plan, and take the following steps toward implementation of the 
3.17 	strategic plan:
3.18 	(1) implement a data collection plan for school districts to retrieve an accurate count of 
3.19 	access, participation, and success in computer science education across kindergarten through 
3.20 	grade 12;
3.21 	(2) define key performance indicators and success measures of computer science 
3.22 	education in Minnesota, such as participation in computer science by key student 
3.23 	demographics, the number of qualified teachers to teach computer science, and the number 
3.24 	of schools teaching computer science;
3.25 	(3) develop a strategy for professional learning that includes learning for teachers, school 
3.26 	administrators, school counselors, paraprofessionals, special education specialists, and other 
3.27 	education support personnel around computer science. The strategy must include:
3.28 	(i) criteria for what constitutes a high-quality program of professional learning;
3.29 	(ii) an evaluative tool or series of rubrics school districts can use to vet and recommend 
3.30 	computer science professional learning programs; and
3.31 	(iii) recommendations on how to align professional learning with both integrated and 
3.32 	standalone computer science instruction separately;
4.1 	(4) provide recommendations for how to expand computer science access to schools 
4.2 	that serve rural populations and low-income populations;
4.3 	(5) provide recommendations for how to ensure access to computer science for the Tribal 
4.4 	Nations and Indigenous communities of Minnesota;
4.5 	(6) align career and technical education frameworks developed by the department with 
4.6 	the framework under subdivision 8, and with secondary education and career pathways in 
4.7 	the computer science field; and
4.8 	(7) research the viability and effectiveness of creating an online computer science resource 
4.9 	hub that includes but is not limited to resources for teaching, curriculum, and learning 
4.10 	communities.

4.11 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.241, is amended by adding a subdivision 
4.12 	to read:
4.13 		Subd. 10.Standards. Following development of the framework under subdivision 8, 
4.14 	the department must use the standards development process under section 120B.021 to 
4.15 	develop academic standards in computer science. A school district is not required to 
4.16 	implement the state standards.