S.B. 816 - Computer Science Education

• Allows students to complete computer science courses as substitutes for science courses to satisfy high school graduation credit requirements beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

• Requires all public high schools to mandate a computer science course credit as a graduation requirement beginning with the 2030-2031 school year, with provisions for one-time two-year waivers subject to board approval.

• Appropriates $600,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 and $600,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025 to the Department of Education for teacher professional development in computer science.

• Expands existing computer science course offerings to require all public elementary, middle, and intermediate schools to offer computer science courses or content by the 2024-2025 school year.

• Requires annual reporting by the superintendent to the board and legislature on computer science courses offered, student enrollment disaggregated by demographics, and teacher information disaggregated by certification, gender, race, and ethnicity.