MS HB1525

Requires each local school district to phase in computer science courses over three years, with at least one high school offering computer science by 2020-2021, 50% of high schools by 2021-2022, and all high schools by 2022-2023.

Mandates all middle schools offer exploratory computer science instruction and all elementary schools offer a minimum of one hour per week of exploratory computer science beginning in 2020-2021.

Specifies curriculum requirements including Photoshop and website development for high schools; computer science discoveries and Swift coding for middle schools; and keyboarding and internet safety basics for elementary schools.

Requires the State Department of Education to ensure the Mississippi Virtual School has sufficient capacity to provide computer science courses and to establish grant programs for teacher professional development, subject to legislative appropriation.

Requires annual reporting by December 1 to state leadership on the number of teachers trained, schools offering courses, students served, student demographics, and eligible entities providing training.