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Committee adopts amendment and advances bill to codify computer science as a graduation requirement
Summary
HB332, introduced in committee as a measure to codify the State Board of Education’s computer science graduation requirement, had an amendment adopted to clarify embedded-course language; committee members and staff explained the difference between courses that qualify as graduation credit and those that count as a college- and career-ready
The Senate Education Policy Committee adopted an amendment and moved HB332 forward after a staff explanation about how the measure would codify the State Board of Education’s computer science graduation requirement and tighten language about which courses count toward college- and career-ready indicators.
Senators listed attendance and the chair called up HB332, introduced in the transcript as “HB332 by Representative Faulkner.” A sponsor or presenting member told the committee that Alabama had been an early adopter of Code.org’s K–12 computer science standards and that the State Board of Education had adopted computer science as a graduation requirement. The sponsor said the bill would “codify that” and streamline language around which courses count for different purposes.
Committee members discussed a line in the amendment about “department-approved courses with embedded computer science skills and experiences” and whether such embedded courses should count as a college- and career-ready indicator. Mark Dixon, introduced to the committee as a staff resource, explained that there are two types of courses: full computer science courses that count as a college- and career-ready indicator and other courses that embed computer science skills but would count for graduation rather than as the higher-level indicator. Dixon said, “For it to count as a college and career indicator, it would have to be the full course in computer science.”
The committee approved the amendment (moved and seconded on the record) and then moved the bill favorably; the chair called for an affirmative voice vote, members responded “Aye,” and the chair thanked Representative Volker for carrying the bill in the Senate. The committee announced the bill would be reported favorably to the Senate.
The amendment’s effect, as explained in the hearing, is to restore “embedded” language worked on with superintendents and the State Department of Education while tightening the statutory text to clarify the distinction between embedded coursework (counts for graduation) and a standalone computer science course (counts as a college- and career-ready indicator).
HB332 will be reported to the Senate calendar for further consideration.
