Computer science policy has made big gains in the South lately. Florida just allocated $10 million to train, recruit, and retain computer science teachers, while Georgia recently passed comprehensive computer science legislation. Now, Alabama is making big waves.
In the last legislative sessions, Alabama lawmakers passed HB 216, which is a comprehensive package that includes all 9 of the Code.org Advocacy Coalition’s recommended policies. The legislation included a requirement that all K-12 Alabama schools must offer computer science by the 2022–2023 school year. It also allows computer science to satisfy a secondary graduation requirement and a post-secondary admissions requirement.
To help implement this work, the legislature will require the Department of Education to create certification pathways for computer science teachers and require hiring a state computer science specialist. The legislature also appropriated $1.3 million for computer science teacher professional learning.
Way to go Alabama! With the passage of HB 216, Alabama becomes the 5th state in the country to commit to implementing all 9 policies.
Thank you to Governor Ivey, Representative Collins, and Representative Faulkner for your work on this great piece of legislation.
