A. Subject to the availability of funds, One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall be allocated by the State Board of Education to develop and implement high quality professional learning opportunities for computer science courses that align to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science and align to the rubric developed by the State Department of Education for quality computer science programs pursuant to Section 1 of this act.

B. The State Department of Education may create a grant program for the purpose of providing professional learning opportunities. Entities eligible to receive grant funds shall include but not be limited to:

1. A school district or a consortium of school districts; and

2. High-quality computer science professional learning providers including institutions within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, technology center schools overseen by the Oklahoma State Board of Career and Technology Education, non-profit organizations or private entities.

C. Grant funds shall be used by grantees for:

1. High-quality professional learning for kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science content including travel to workshops;

2. Credentialing for kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science teachers including career and technology education endorsements and academic supplemental endorsements;

3. Supports for kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science professional learning including mentoring and coaching;

4. Creation of instructional resources to support implementation including integrated curricular resources; and

5. Developing or redesigning computer science resources that are aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science.

Up to ten percent (10%) of grant funds may be used to study the effectiveness of professional learning, curricula or other initiatives provided for in this subsection.

D. A grantee may use grant funds to purchase technology including software, hardware or infrastructure, provided it is directly connected to the grantee's ability to implement a quality computer science program as defined by the rubric required by Section 1 of this act. To use grant funds for technology, a grantee shall specify in the grant application the amount of funds to be used for technology and the items to be purchased.

E. The State Department of Education shall prioritize the following grant applications:

1. School districts that are working in partnership with providers of high-quality professional learning for kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science;

2. Proposals that describe strategies to enroll underserved populations of students; and

3. Proposals from rural or urban areas with low penetration of kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science offerings including school districts that partner together to form clusters of implementation.

F. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act.

Added by Laws 2019, c. 332, § 2, eff. July 1, 2019.