Science education: STEM curriculum.

The California Constitution requires the Legislature to encourage by all suitable means the promotion of intellectual, scientific, moral, and agricultural improvement. Under existing law, the Legislature finds and declares that improved science education in elementary and secondary schools contributes to improvements in pupil performance. Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to include instruction in various areas of study, including, but not limited to, mathematics and science. This bill would make specified findings and declarations, and would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to consider strategies to introduce, and expose to pupils, a complete STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program at age appropriate levels from kindergarten through each of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The bill would require the STEM program to include certain elements, including the development of a STEM curriculum that includes a wide array of engineering fields, opportunities to design and perform scientific experiments that explore challenging questions developed by pupils, and training for current teachers interested in a STEM curriculum.