,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cgcd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #ab1 #bjac,mr4 ,crdenas 7for himself and ,mr4 ,honda7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to establish a task force to share best practices on computer programming and coding for elementary schools and secondary schools1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the #daf;d#fegbfifcfabjdcfaf;e#bjdcf;f#fdfe ,act of #bjac or the ,america ,can ,code ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,according to the ,national ,science ,foundation1 #b percent of students studying science1 technology1 engineering1 or math 7,,stem7 are computer science majors1 while #fj percent of ,,stem jobs are in the computing field4 7#b7 ,the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics estimates that computer programming jobs are growing at twice the national job growth average1 and these jobs are high paying middle class jobs that can secure the financial future of many ,american families and also help grow the ,united ,states economy4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 secondary schools should focus on preparing career and technical students1 including underrepresented groups such as minorities and women1 for academic and technical opportunities in postsecondary education or entry into a high paying1 skilled job in the computer programming field2 7#b7 elementary schools and secondary schools should place emphasis on coding and computer programming as a vocational and technical education track2 7#c7 educators should rethink the way coding as a skill is conceptualized within the education system and in our society2 and 7#d7 learning to write and read code is critical to creating and innovating in cyberspace1 and learning this language is also a skill critical to the national security and economic competitiveness of the ,united ,states4 #d4 ,coding as a critical foreign language ,section #fjjb7;b77#a7 of the ,america ,,competes ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ihjb7;b77#a77 is amended by inserting 1 including a computer programming language1 after a foreign language4 #e4 ,amendments to the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,vocational and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf ,the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,vocational and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 in section #abb7;c7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdb7;c77-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,i7 in the first sentence1 by inserting 1 including coding and computer programming1 after the career and technical programs of study2 and 7,,ii7 in clause 7iv71 by inserting 1 particularly in the technology field after or an associate or baccalaureate degree2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,h71 by inserting 1 especially in computer programming after in current or emerging occupations2 and 7iii7 in subparagraph 7,i77iii71 by inserting 1 especially in computer programming after or high demand occupations2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#g7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a77ii71 by inserting 1 particularly coding and computer programming after all aspects of an industry2 and 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by inserting 1 such as the technology industry after all aspects of an industry2 7,c7 in paragraph 7#i77;,c71 by inserting 1 especially in computer programming after or high demand occupations2 7,d7 in paragraph 7#af71 by inserting 1 especially in computer programming after regional occupational opportunities2 and 7,e7 in paragraph 7#ah71 by inserting 1 especially in computer programming after or high demand occupations and non-traditional fields2 and 7#b7 in section #bjc 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcgc7-- 7,a7 in subsection 7c7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,i7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by inserting 1 especially in coding and computer programming1 after integrates academic and career and technical education instruction2 7,,ii7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by inserting 1 especially in computer programming after or high demand occupations2 7,,iii7 in subparagraph 7,e71 by inserting 1 particularly in the technology field after in a specific career field2 and 7,,iv7 in subparagraph 7,f71 by inserting 1 particularly in computer programming1 after or high wage employment2 and 7ii7 in paragraph 7#f71 by inserting 1 particularly in the technology industry1 after 7including preapprenticeship programs72 7,b7 in subsection 7d77#a71 by inserting 1 including hardware and software after provide for the acquisition of tech prep program equipment2 and 7,c7 in subsection 7e77#a7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,b7-- 7,i7 by redesignating clauses 7iv7 and 7v7 and 7v7 and 7vi71 respectively2 and 7,,ii7 by inserting after clause 7iii7 the following3 7iv7 complete a ,state or industry-recognized certification or licensure in computer programming2 2 and 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,c7-- 7,i7 by redesignating clauses 7iii7 and 7iv7 and 7iv7 and 7v71 respectively2 and 7,,ii7 by inserting after clause 7ii7 the following3 7iii7 complete a ,state or industry-recognized certification or licensure in computer programming2 4 #f4 ,task force on computer programming and coding 7a7 ,establishment of task force on computer programming and coding ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education shall convene a task force to explore-- 7#a7 mechanisms for the development of draft curricula for elementary and secondary education with respect to computer programming and coding2 7#b7 a mechanism to collect and share best practices among educators with respect to computer programming and coding at the elementary school and secondary school levels2 and 7#c7 a national strategy to ensure competitiveness in emerging ,,stem fields1 such as computer programming and coding4 7b7 ,functions ,the task force shall-- 7#a7 develop options for a collaborative model and an organizational structure for such task force under which the joint research and development activities may be planned1 managed1 and conducted effectively1 including mechanisms for the allocation of resources among the participants of such task force for support of such activities2 7#b7 identify and prioritize at least #c challenges of educating and training a workforce equipped to fill computer science and engineering jobs1 particularly focused on nationally significant problems requiring collaborative and interdisciplinary solutions2 7#c7 propose a process for developing a research and development agenda for such task force to address the challenges identified under paragraph 7#b72 7#d7 define the roles and responsibilities for the members from each of the groups described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 of subsection 7c72 7#e7 establish the information portal described in subsection 7e72 and 7#f7 make recommendations for how task force may be funded from ,federal1 ,state1 and nongovernmental sources4 7c7 ,composition ,in establishing the task force under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall appoint to serve on the task force an equal number of representatives from each of the following #d groups3 7#a7 ,the ,department of ,education and other relevant ,federal ,government agencies4 7#b7 ,elementary school or secondary school teachers4 7#c7 ,institutions of higher education1 including minority-serving institutions and community colleges4 7#d7 ,employers of individuals with expertise in computer science and engineering4 7d7 ,compensation and expenses ,members of the task force shall serve without compensation4 7e7 ,information portal 7#a7 ,in general ,the task force shall establish and maintain1 an information portal which shall-- 7,a7 include the establishment of an online1 publicly available information portal for use by elementary schools and secondary schools and stakeholders that directs users to key data and tools to build or update curricula for elementary and secondary education on coding and computer programming2 and 7,b7 expand and be complementary to existing ,federal efforts promoting coding and computer programming in elementary schools and secondary schools to prepare for high paying skilled jobs in the computer programming field4 7#b7 ,contents ,the information portal established under this subsection shall direct users 7who may include elementary schools and secondary schools1 academia1 and private sector stakeholders1 and non-profit organizations with expertise in coding71 to coordinated and systematic information on promoting coding and computer programming in elementary schools and secondary schools to prepare students for high paying skilled jobs in the computer programming field1 including-- 7,a7 best or model practices2 7,b7 data2 7,c7 case studies2 7,d7 indicators2 7,e7 scientific reports2 7,f7 policy recommendations for ,federal1 ,state1 and local government2 7,g7 guidance documents and design standards for elementary schools and secondary schools2 7,h7 incentives for teachers2 7,i7 education initiatives2 7,j7 support tools1 including draft curricula and appropriate materials for teachers2 7,k7 public and private sources of assistance to available to support computer science and engineering in elementary schools and secondary schools2 and 7,l7 such other information as the coordinating as the task force considers appropriate4 7f7 ,report ,not later than #bd months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall transmit to the ,committees on ,education and ,workforce and ,oversight and ,government ,reform of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committees on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions and ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate a report describing the findings and recommendations of the task force4 7g7 ,termination ,the task force shall terminate upon the completion of information portal report required under subsection 7e7 and the transmittal of the report required under subsection 7f74 7h7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,,esea terms ,the terms elementary school and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,community college ,the term community college has the meaning given the term junior or community college in section #cab7;f7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeh7;f774 7#c7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#d7 ,minority-serving institution ,the term minority-serving institution means an institution described in section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgq7a774 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4