Until this week, Kansas was one of two states that considered high school computer science classes as only an elective.
But on Tuesday during its monthly meeting in Topeka, the Kansas Board of Education voted to allow computer science to count as a core math or science credit toward high school graduation requirements — a decision applauded by local and state tech advocacy groups.
“This is a huge first step for all Kansas students in gaining access to computer science education,” said Ashley Scheideman, executive director of FlagshipKansas.Tech. “It is necessary that Kansas students have access to computer science education through which they will learn skills vital to a qualified workforce such as computational thinking, creativity, problem solving, analysis and logic.”
With the new recommendations, local school boards can substitute one unit of computer science for either one unit of science or math, as long as the student meets the math and science concepts required in regulations and the local school district allows it.
The approval doesn’t change the minimum 21 credits required for graduation, and it doesn’t make computer science a required course for graduation, the state says. The approval does, however, put an emphasis on the importance of computer science and increases the flexibility for students, counselors and administrators to count computer science as a core credit.
FlagshipKansas.Tech, the Wichita nonprofit supporting technology companies through innovation and awareness, said getting the approval was a years-long endeavor supported by many Kansas organizations including Ignister, Science City at Union Station, KC Tech Council, KC STEM Alliance and others.
“Making computer science more accessible to high school students on their path to graduation will help expose them to these opportunities and help Kansas take another step forward in closing that workforce gap,” said Joy Eakins, president of Wichita's Cornerstone Data and chair of the FlagshipKansas.Tech education committee.
Kansas graduation requirements include a minimum of 21 units of credit, including four English language arts units; three history, government and social studies units; three math units; three science units; one physical education unit; one unit of fine arts; and six units of elective courses.
