House committee backs bill to codify computer-science graduation requirement, add AI to curriculum
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Summary
The House Education Policy Committee voted to report HB 329 favorably as amended, a bill that codifies the State Board's decision to make a computer science course a graduation requirement (applies to grades 9'12), adds AI and emerging technologies to the definition, and requires the department to publish minimum standards and approved courses.
Representative Faulkner told the House Education Policy Committee that HB 329 would "codify the state board's action that makes taking a computer science course a graduation requirement by 2031 to 2032 school year." The committee adopted a technical amendment and voted to report the bill favorably as amended.
The amendment clarified language lost during Senate changes and specified how computer science courses count toward graduation and reporting. Faulkner said the amendment "clarifies that a department-approved course with embedded computer science skills and experiences will count" and requires the state Department of Education to publish minimum standards and a list of approved courses.
Committee members asked how the requirement would fit into existing credit requirements. Representative Smith asked which grades the requirement would cover and how it would be scheduled; committee members responded that the requirement applies to grades 9 through 12 and "shall not result in an increase in the number of credits required for graduation," meaning it can replace one math, one science or one career-technical credit or serve as an elective where appropriate.
Representative DuBose and others pressed whether computer science would automatically count as a college-and-career-readiness indicator. The sponsor and committee clarified it is not automatically an indicator by itself but "may fulfill any of one of the following" (for example, under AP, dual enrollment or career-tech indicators) when the course meets those criteria.
On a voice vote the committee adopted the committee amendment and then gave HB 329 a favorable report as amended. The committee record shows the amendment was seconded by Representative Baker; the committee took voice votes to adopt the amendment and to report the bill out and did not take a roll-call tally in the transcript.
The bill now moves to the next steps in the legislative process after leaving committee.