COURSE ON CAREER READINESS: This act establishes the Career Readiness Course Task Force to explore the possibility of a course for 8th and 9th grade students covering topics related to various career and educational opportunities. The Task Force shall be composed of members as set forth in the act and shall serve without compensation. The Task Force shall consider a course that contains certain components, as described in the act.

Before December 1, 2019, the Task Force shall present its findings and recommendations to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Joint Committee on Education, and the State Board of Education. Upon presenting such findings and recommendations the Task Force shall dissolve.

These provisions are identical to the truly agreed SS/HB 1415 (2018), the truly agreed HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 894 & 921 (2018), and HCS/HB 1245 (2018), and similar to the truly agreed SS/HCS/HB 1606 (2018), SCS/SB 873 (2018), and HCS/HB 1113 (2017).

COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE: This act also requires that before July 1, 2019, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) develop a high school graduation policy that allows a student to fulfill one unit of academic credit with a district-approved computer science course for any math, science, or practical arts unit required for high school graduation.

The graduation policy shall require that all students have either taken all courses that require end-of-course exams or are on track to take all courses that require end-of-course exams under the Missouri School Improvement Program.

A school district shall communicate to students electing to use a computer science course for a mathematics unit that some institutions of higher education may require 4 units of math for college admission. The parent of each student who chooses to take a computer science course in place of a 4th unit of math shall sign and submit a document acknowledging that not taking a 4th unit of math may have an adverse effect on college admission decisions.

Before July 1, 2019, DESE shall convene a workgroup to develop and recommend rigorous academic performance standards relating to computer science for kindergarten through 12th grade. The work group shall include representatives from DESE, the Department of Higher Education, business and industry, kindergarten through 12th grade educators, and institutions of higher education. These standards shall be adopted and implemented beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. These standards shall be adopted and implemented beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. DESE shall also develop a procedure by which any licensed teacher who demonstrates sufficient content knowledge of computer science shall receive a special endorsement on his or her license signifying this specialized knowledge.

The act creates the "Computer Science Fund" for the purpose of providing teacher professional development programs relating to computer science. The State Board shall award grants from the fund to eligible entities, as defined in the act, who have submitted an application to DESE, as specified in the act.

These provisions are similar to provisions contained in the truly agreed to HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 894 & 921 (2018), HB 2128 (2018), HB 2282 (2018), HB 2292 (2018), and SB 571 (2018).

STEM CAREER AWARENESS PROGRAM: Subject to appropriation, DESE shall create the "STEM Career Awareness Program" to increase STEM career awareness among students in grades six through eight. The statewide program shall introduce students to a wide variety of STEM careers and technology through an online-based STEM curriculum.

Before January 1, 2019, DESE shall solicit proposals and select a provider for the online program using specified criteria or choose a third-party nonprofit entity to implement the program, solicit proposals, and select a provider. The program shall be funded by the "STEM Career Awareness Program Fund" and shall be promoted beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

These provisions are similar to SCS/SBs 894 & 921 (2018), HB 2128 (2018), HB 2282 (2018), HB 2292 (2018), SCS/HB 248 (2017), and HB 948 (2017).

JAMIE ANDREWS