Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Computer Science Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee debates and rejects bill to remove computer science graduation requirement
Summary
After extended debate and outside testimony, the House Education Committee voted down Representative Jeremy Wooldridge's bill to change the computer science high‑school graduation requirement from mandatory to optional and to embed standards in CTE pathways.
The House Education Committee rejected House Bill 18‑25 on a recorded voice vote after a lengthy hearing featuring agency testimony, education advocates, business groups and district officials.
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge, sponsor of the bill, said the measure would make the current computer science graduation requirement optional for students who do not choose a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway. He said the bill aims to provide flexibility to rural districts that cannot hire certified computer science teachers and to reduce situations where the mandate leads to low‑interest, low‑quality offerings. "This is a bill that's constituent driven for me," Wooldridge told the committee, describing concerns raised by teachers and administrators in his district.
Courtney Salas Ford of the Department of Education told committee members the department supports embedding computer science standards into CTE pathways when appropriate, and she presented data showing teacher certification counts and student participation. Salas Ford said 37,000 students took a computer science class last year and roughly 4,200 did so via virtual options because their district lacked a certified teacher. She also explained federal rules limiting alternate standards for graduation (discussed elsewhere in the hearing) and noted existing safeguards for students with severe cognitive disabilities.
Code.org and other advocates testified strongly against repeal. Anthony Owen of code.org called the bill "a step back for Arkansas," said the state has more than 900 teachers approved to teach high‑school computer science through various certification pathways, and warned that removing the graduation requirement would reduce access for some students. Randy Zook of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce urged the committee to maintain the requirement to prepare students for a technology‑driven workforce.
Committee members posed detailed questions about which courses currently satisfy the requirement, how CTE pathways work, the availability of virtual instruction, and supports for students with disabilities. Proponents said embedding standards in CTE gives students more applied, interest‑driven routes into computer science, while opponents said the mandate expands access to all students, including those who would not otherwise encounter the subject.
After public testimony and discussion the committee voted; the clerk announced "The noes have it," and Representative Wooldridge's measure failed to pass the committee.
