S.Amdt. 2002

SA 2002. Ms. ROSEN (for herself and Mr. Wicker) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr.
Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for
Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to
establish a regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and
report on economic security, science, research, innovation,
manufacturing, and job creation, to establish a critical supply chain
resiliency program, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:

At the end of title I of division F, add the following:

Subtitle D--Teach CS Act

SEC. 6131. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the ``Teacher Education for
Computer Science Act'' or the ``Teach CS Act''.

SEC. 6132. TEACHER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT.

Section 204(a)(4)(G)(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1022c(a)(4)(G)(i)) is amended by inserting ``and
development of computational thinking skills'' after
``integrate technology''.

SEC. 6133. ENHANCING TEACHER EDUCATION.

Section 232(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1032a(c)(2)) is amended by inserting ``and development
of computational thinking skills,'' after ``technology''.

SEC. 6134. TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE
EDUCATION.

Part B of title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is
amended (20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) by adding at the end the
following:

``Subpart 6--Teacher Education Programs for Computer Science Education

``SEC. 259. TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE
EDUCATION.

``(a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated to
carry out this section, the Secretary may award competitive
grants to eligible institutions to establish centers of
excellence in teacher education programs to support computer
science education and computational thinking skill
development.
``(b) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded to an eligible
institution under this section--
``(1) shall be used by such institution to ensure that
current and future teachers meet the applicable State
certification and licensure requirements in a field that will
enable them to teach computer science in their State at the
elementary and secondary school levels, by--
``(A) creating teacher education programs that meet the
requirements of section 200(6)(A)(iv) and offer, through
hands-on and classroom teaching activities with in-service
teachers--
``(i) doctoral, master's, or bachelor's degrees in teaching
computer science at the elementary school and secondary
school levels; or
``(ii) teaching endorsements in computer science, in the
case of a teacher with related State certification and
licensure requirements or a student who is pursuing
certification and licensure requirements in related fields,
such as mathematics and science;
``(B) ensuring that current and future teachers who
graduate from such programs meet the applicable State
certification and licensure requirements, including any
requirements for certification obtained through alternative
routes to certification, or, with regard to special education
teachers, the qualifications described in section
612(a)(14)(C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act;
``(C) recruiting individuals to enroll in such programs,
including subject matter experts and professionals in fields
related to computer science; and
``(D) awarding scholarships and fellowships of not more
than $4,000 per student based on financial need and to
recruit traditionally underrepresented groups in computer
science to help such students pay the cost of attendance (as
defined in section 472); and
``(2) may be used by such institution to conduct research
in computer science education and computational thinking
skills to improve instruction in such areas.
``(c) Duration.--
``(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall be
awarded for 5 years, conditional upon a satisfactory report
to the Secretary of progress with respect to the program
carried out with the grant after the first 3 years of the
grant period.
``(2) Report of progress.--Such report of progress on the
program shall include data on the number of students and
instructors enrolled, information on former graduates
(including on how many earn teaching certification or
licensure in a field that will enable them to teach computer
science in their State at the secondary level, be prepared to
teach computer science at the elementary level, and support
students in developing computational thinking skills), and
data on any additional funding (other than Federal funds)
received to carry out the program.
``(d) Application.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible institution desiring a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the
Secretary, at such time in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, which shall
include--
``(A) a demonstration of the need for teachers with the
certification or licensure requirements that enable them to
teach computer science at the elementary and secondary level
in the geographic area or State in which the institution is
located;
``(B) the plan to ensure the longevity of the program after
the end of the grant; and
``(C) the plan to scale up the program (including the plan
for the number of personnel to be hired, a description of
their expected qualifications and titles, the number of
fellowships and scholarships to be awarded, the estimated
administrative expenses, proposed academic advising strategy,
and organizing and outreach to maintain virtual community of
computer science educators).
``(2) Equitable distribution.--The Secretary shall award
grants under this section in a manner that ensures an
equitable distribution of grants--
``(A) to rural and urban eligible institutions;
``(B) to eligible institutions that qualify for a waiver
under subsection (e)(2); and
``(C) to eligible institutions that are located in areas
where there is a need for increasing computer science
education opportunities.
``(e) Matching Requirement.--
``(1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section,
an eligible entity shall provide, from non-Federal sources,
an amount that is not less than 50 percent of the amount of
the grant, which may be provided in cash or in-kind, to carry
out the activities supported by the grant.
``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary shall waive all or part of the
matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any
fiscal year the Secretary determines that applying such
requirement to the eligible institution would result in
serious hardship or an inability to carry out the authorized
activities described in this section.
``(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the
first grant is awarded under his section and each year
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
on the success of the program based on metrics determined by
the Secretary, including the number of centers established,
the number of enrolled students, and the number of qualified
teachers.
``(g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall use up to
5 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year to
provide technical assistance to eligible institutions.
``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means an institution of higher education, as
defined in section 101, which may be in a partnership with a
nonprofit organization.
``(2) Computer science.--The term `computer science' means
the study of computers, including algorithmic processes and
the study of computing principles and theories, as defined by
a State, and may include instruction or learning on--
``(A) computer programming or coding as a tool to--
``(i) create software, such as applications, games, and
websites; and
``(ii) process, manage, analyze, or manipulate data;
``(B) development and management of computer hardware
related to sharing, processing, representing, securing, and
using digital information; and
``(C) computational thinking skills and interdisciplinary
problem-solving to equip

[[Page S3447]]

students with the skills and abilities necessary to apply
computational thinking in the digital world.
``(3) Computational thinking.--The term `computational
thinking' means critical thinking skills that--
``(A) include knowledge of how problems and solutions can
be expressed in such a way that allows them to be modeled or
solved using a computer or machine;
``(B) include the use of strategies related to problem
decomposition, pattern matching, abstractions, modularity,
and algorithm design; and
``(C) involve creative problem solving skills and are
applicable across a wide range of disciplines and careers.''.
______