AB 130, Sec. 143

(a) For the 2021-22 fiscal year, the sum of fifteen million ($15,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the Computer Science Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program. This funding shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2026.

(b) The Computer Science Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program is hereby established for the purpose of providing one-time grants to local educational agencies to support the preparation of credentialed teachers to earn a supplementary authorization in computer science and provide instruction in computer science coursework in settings authorized by the underlying credential.

(c) The commission shall approve applications submitted by local educational agencies that meet the criteria established by the commission pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e). To the extent that funds are available, the commission shall allocate funds to participating local educational agencies for each approved application.

(d) A participating teacher is eligible to receive an award of up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) from the Computer Science Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program.

(e) The commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish grant criteria for local educational agencies.

(2) Issue a request for proposal to all local educational agencies to solicit applications for funding.

(3) Accept grant applications from participating local educational agencies until funds are fully expended.

(4) Review applications and verify that each proposed participant teacher holds a valid credential.

(5) Allocate grants to participating local educational agencies for the purpose of paying the teacher costs of coursework, books, fees, and tuition, as applicable.

(6) Give priority to grant applications for teachers that provide instruction at either of the following:

(A) A school operating within a rural district.

(B) A school with a higher share than other applicants of unduplicated pupils, as defined in Section 42238.02 of the Education Code.

(f) In selecting grant recipients, the commission shall require each applicant to, at a minimum, do all of the following:

(1) Identify the teachers employed by the local educational agency who have been selected to participate in the incentive grant program.

(2) Identify the number of coursework credits required for each selected teacher to earn a supplementary authorization in computer science.

(3) Provide an estimated cost for the required coursework, books, fees, tuition, and release time, as applicable.

(4) Provide a 100-percent match of grant funding in the form of one or both of the following:

(A) One dollar ($1) for every one dollar ($1) of grant funding received that is to be used in a manner consistent with allowable grant costs described in paragraph (3).

(B) An in-kind match of release time or substitute teacher costs for the participating teacher.

(5) Report to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing on or before August 30 of the second year after receiving a grant award the number of new computer science courses offered at the school being taught by a teacher who participated in the incentive grant program.

(g) The awards allocated pursuant to this section shall not be subject to local educational agency indirect costs.

(h) On or before April 1 of each year until the fiscal year following final disbursement of the grant funds, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing shall report to the fiscal committees of the Legislature, the Legislative Analyst's Office, and the Department of Finance on the program, including, but not limited to, the number of participating local educational agencies, the number of grants issued, the number of computer science supplementary authorizations issued, and the number of new computer science courses reported by grant recipients. The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(i) For purposes of this section, "local educational agency" means a school district, county office of education, county superintendent of schools, state-operated education program, including a state special school, an education program providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, that is offered by a state agency, including the Department of Youth and Community Restoration and the State Department of Developmental Services, or a regional occupational center or program operated by a joint powers authority or county office of education.

(j) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be "General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts," as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2020-21 fiscal year, and included within the "total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B," as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

Updated June 22, 2023