Chapter 200-O: Computer Science Educator Program

The purpose of this chapter is to promote broader computer science education in New Hampshire with the goal of preparing more students for employment opportunities in this field and to establish the administrator of computer science education and STEM within the department of education.

In this chapter:

I. "Computer science administrator" refers to the computer science and STEM administrator established in RSA 21-N:13.

II. "Eligible industry recognized credential" or "IRC" refers to those industry recognized credentials in computer science or related fields that are approved by the computer science administrator to expand computer science education for participation in the below funds.

III. "Full time or equivalent" refers to the amount of time an individual engages in instruction in a New Hampshire education program, which shall be considered full-time or equivalent if it includes instruction of not less than 4 one-credit classes per semester or instruction of no less than 80 students over the course of a semester.

I. The department shall determine, in coordination with the computer science administrator to expand computer science education, industry recognized credentials eligible for reimbursement and the amount of reimbursement. Any such reimbursements shall be based on the successful attainment of an eligible IRC.

II. The department of education shall create an application process, which it shall publish on or before 6 months from the effective date of this act, for New Hampshire certified educators to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of the cost of obtaining an eligible industry recognized credentials in the field of computer science. The process shall include a list of eligible industry recognized credentials and the amount of reimbursement for successful attainment.

I. The department of education shall adopt through rulemaking pursuant to RSA 541-A, a computer science educator credential that permits individuals holding eligible industry recognized credentials to receive a New Hampshire certified educator credential in the area of computer science. Such individuals shall be qualified to teach in approved New Hampshire education programs.

II. Individuals teaching full time, or the equivalent, in an approved New Hampshire computer science education program shall be eligible for a $5,000 bonus for the first year of teaching, and $2,500 each year for the next 2 years of teaching. Only completed years of teaching shall be eligible and there shall be no proration for partial years.

As part of the STEM initiative for New Hampshire schools, experiential robotics platform, 5,500 robotics kits shall be made available for all New Hampshire classrooms for grades 6-12. The program shall consist of standards-based curriculum and hands-on resources, designed to facilitate competency-based learning in the classroom.