Committee approves substitute for SB 558 requiring at least one half-credit in computer science for high school graduation

The West Virginia Senate Education Committee on March 16 approved a committee substitute for Senate Bill 558 that would require public high school students to earn a minimum of one-half credit in a high-school-level computer science course (which may be taken in grades 8 through 12) as a condition of graduation and sent the substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass and, under original double reference, be first referred to the Finance Committee.

Why it matters: the measure would change graduation requirements statewide, create a need for local course offerings and teacher capacity, and require the State Board of Education to adopt rules and updated standards to implement the change.

Committee counsel Hank summarized the substitute: it "requires a public high school students to earn a minimum of 1 half credit of high school computer science course before they graduate. The course is required to be offered in person in a traditional classroom setting unless that's not feasible. If it's not feasible, the course can be offered in a blended learning environment or in an online or other technology based format that is tailored to meet the needs of each participating student." The substitute also permits the credit to be earned in grades 8 through 12.

The substitute directs the State Board to update computer science standards to include high-school introductory courses, to provide a list of eligible course options to public schools, and to adopt rules "to ensure schools can obtain the necessary teacher capacity to support implementation," counsel said. Counsel added the rules could allow limited authorizations or endorsements short of full licensure to expand teaching capacity.

Deputy State Superintendent Sonia White answered committee questions about existing graduation-course counts, telling the committee: "For mathematics, students required to have 4 credits for graduation and for science, 3 credits." Committee members asked whether offering computer science as a math or science equivalent might impede students who need higher level math or science for certain career paths; White and other speakers said the committee substitute attempted to address scheduling and flexibility concerns and that the State Board would provide rule guidance.

Members discussed teacher capacity and funding. Counsel said the bill does not itself include a funding appropriation and acknowledged that money "might be sought to go along with this bill" to support local implementation. A representative from Code.org attended virtually and was noted as a provider of free teacher training that some districts already use.

Committee action: with no amendments adopted in committee, the committee agreed to the substitute by voice vote and the vice chair moved that the substitute be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass, under original double reference, to the Committee on Finance; the motion was adopted by voice vote. The transcript records voice votes but does not include numeric tallies.

Ending: The substitute now moves to the full Senate and will also be referred to the Finance Committee under the original double-reference motion. If enacted, the State Board will be required to update standards and rules, provide eligible course lists, and address teacher authorization and capacity to support the new graduation credit requirement.