Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2180 by Nelson (Relating to the essential knowledge and skills of the technology applications curriculum and the establishment of a computer science strategic advisory committee.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2180, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($522,101) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2020
($310,715)
2021
($211,386)
2022
($143,064)
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($310,715)
1.0
2021
($211,386)
1.0
2022
($143,064)
1.0
2023
$0
0.0
2024
$0
0.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt certain Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards by December 31, 2020 for the technology applications curriculum for kindergarten through grade eight. This would include standards related to coding, computer programming, computational thinking, and cybersecurity. The SBOE would be required to review and revise the standards every five years as needed to ensure that the curriculum is relevant and aligned with current and emerging professions.
The bill would create a computer science strategic advisory committee to develop and provide recommendations for increasing computer science instruction and participation in public schools. The bill would allow the advisory committee to hold public meetings and TEA to provide administrative support for the advisory committee. The bill stipulates that the committee members would not be entitled to compensation but would be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in fulfilling committee duties. The bill would designate funding for the administrative and operational expenses of the advisory committee to be appropriated to TEA for this purpose.
The bill would abolish the committee on January 1, 2021.
Methodology
According to the Texas Education Agency, the legislation would result in costs associated with reviewing the technology applications curriculum ahead of its currently scheduled review. Currently, the SBOE is not scheduled to adopt revised technology applications TEKS until 2022. The cost associated with convening work groups to make recommendations to meet the schedule required by the bill would total $100,050 in fiscal year 2020 and $66,700 in fiscal year 2021. In fiscal year 2023, there would be a cost of $44,850 to convene state review panels to review instructional materials aligned to the revised technology applications TEKS.
According to TEA, it is estimated that 8 commission members would need to be reimbursed for travel expenses and that there would be a need for 8 meetings prior to September 1, 2020. The total cost for travel reimbursement is expected to be about $30,960. A fee for streaming of public meetings and archiving meetings on the TEA website would cost $1,500 per meeting for a total of $12,000. It is anticipated that costs associated with development of the report would be approximately $50,000.
According to TEA, one FTE (Program Specialist VI) would be needed to support the strategic advisory committee and to assist with coordination of review and revision of the TEKS. Annual salary, benefits, and start up costs in fiscal year 2020 would be $102,214, and $98,214 in fiscal years 2021, and 2022.
Technology
The bill would require revisions to the Texas State Data System PEIMS system to capture data from new courses that are developed as a result of the bill's requirements. These costs would total $15,491 in fiscal year 2020 and $46,472 in fiscal year 2021.
Local Government Impact
School districts and charter schools could see increased costs related to curriculum development, professional development and training, and instructional materials.