Substitute Senate Bill No. 957 Summary

• Establishes computer science, including computer programming instruction, as a required subject in Connecticut public school curricula effective July 1, 2019.

• Requires all teacher preparation programs leading to professional certification to include instruction in computer science and information technology skills as applied to student learning and classroom instruction by July 1, 2020.

• Directs the State Board of Education to adopt regulations and certification standards for computer science teachers, including a computer science endorsement, and to approve a subject area assessment for computer science certification by January 1, 2020.

• Creates alternate route certification programs for computer science teachers through the Office of Higher Education and allows applicants to substitute satisfactory scores on approved subject area assessments for traditional subject area requirements as of July 1, 2020.

• Establishes a "computer science education account" within the General Fund to support curriculum development, teacher professional development, and capacity building for school districts in computer science education.

• Requires student success plans beginning July 1, 2020 to consider career and academic choices in computer science, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.