25, the Senate Committee on Education passed legislation to help integrate computer science in schools throughout California.  Assembly Bill (AB) 1530, authored by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to consider identifying, developing or revising model curriculum on computer science for integration in the classroom, and authorizes the SPI to seek out additional funding to offset the General Fund costs.
Assemblymember Chau noted that, “As we move towards a technology intensive world, it is essential for all students to excel in and have a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of computer science and its connection to innovation and the development of technology.  This is one step in the continuing evolution of computer science in K–12 schools to teach our children how to become the creators of technology and not just consumers.”
This past December, over sixteen million students worldwide participated in The Hour of Code campaign led by Code.org as part of Computer Science Education Week. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2020 there will be 4.6 million jobs in computing or information technology, which is more than all other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields combined. When we look at the number of students who recently took the Advanced Placement Computer Science exam in California there is cause for concern.  Only 4,964 students took the exam of which 74 were African-American, 235 were Mexican-American, and 1,074 were girls.
“For the sake of our future work force, innovation and equality of opportunity, we as a state and as leaders in our various fields must do more to bring computer science into our schools,” concluded Assemblymember Chau.
Assemblymember Ed Chau represents the 49th Assembly District, comprised of the communities of Alhambra, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City and portions of Montebello, and South El Monte.