Legislators in Ohio are proposing legislation that would mandate computer science coursework for high school graduates.
Legislation is being introduced by state senators and representatives Don Jones, a Republican from Freeport, and Gayle Manning, a Republican from North Ridgeville, in the Ohio House. A bill is being introduced in the Ohio Senate by Catherine D. Ingram, a Democrat from Cincinnati, and Jerry Cirino, a Republican from Kirtland. Next week, both are scheduled to be unveiled.
In addition to requiring public school students to take a unit of computer science coursework in order to graduate beginning with the high school class of 2032, the measures would mandate that Ohio public high schools offer at least one computer science course beginning with the 2027–2028 academic year.
During a press conference on Thursday, Manning stated that the purpose of the measure is to position Ohio as a leader in tech education and to prepare kids for success by enabling them to acquire critical skills like computational thinking and problem solving.
Jones, who was unable to attend the press conference, only had sponsor testimony when he filed a similar bill at the previous General Assembly.
According to Rick Carfagna, senior vice president of government affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, slightly more than a third (38%) of Ohio’s high schools do not offer computer science courses.
According to him, having a workforce that is technologically savvy and equipped with the necessary skill sets for jobs that haven’t even been created yet is essential to Ohio’s economic competitiveness.
According to Julia Wynn, director of state government affairs for Code.org, computer science courses are offered in 61% of Ohio’s public high schools.
According to her, Ohio’s rural and urban schools are marginally less likely than suburban ones to teach computer science.
According to her, Ohio’s statewide proportion is lower than that of the majority of its bordering states. For example, computer science courses are offered in 91% of public high schools in Indiana, 78% of West Virginia schools, 76% of Kentucky schools, and 75% of Pennsylvania schools.
According to Cirino, this is the point at which economic progress and education meet. In Ohio, economic development is essential.
According to him, it is essential for the state’s workforce that high schools graduate their pupils with a foundational understanding of computer science.
According to Cirino, it’s almost as if computers, reading, writing, and math are the new motto.They won’t have any equipment. If they are not computer savvy, they will not be able to study architecture or psychology; you simply need that tool in your arsenal.
Chris Berry, president and CEO of OhioX, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to technology, stated that if the tech workforce does not keep up, Ohio will regress.
We need a workforce as AI spreads and becomes integrated into all kinds of businesses, regardless of size, he stated. The state of Ohio needs technological workers who can take the initiative, push the boundaries, innovate, and create the industries of the future.
According to a 2023 Code.org study, public school students in Arkansas, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee are required to pass a computer science course.
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