Ohio may mandate computer education in public schools

Yahoo

28-02-2025

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio public school students might soon have a new course to complete before graduating.
'It's almost like we're talking reading, writing, arithmetic and computers anymore as the new mantra,' state Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said.
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A new bill set to be introduced in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate will require that Ohio public school students take a computer science course before graduating high school. If passed, the class requirement would become effective for the class of 2032.
If a school is not able to offer the course in a traditional classroom setting by that deadline, it will be required to submit an action plan to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by June 30, 2027, outlining a plan to comply.
Why computer science? Backers of the bill said it comes down to preparing the state's workforce and getting students interested in the field from a young age.
'Industry has a need now and in the future for computer programmers and I.T. personnel,' Ohio Chamber of Commerce Vice President Rick Carfagna said. 'Until we get serious about cultivating our own farm team of technology workers, Ohio companies will have to continue to either look out of state for workers or apply for federal H-1B visas to import talent from overseas.'
Right now, Ohio public school students can take a computer science course to fulfill other electives or courses needed for graduation, but it is not mandatory.
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Ohio lags behind neighboring states in offering this sort of course to high schoolers. According to a study by a national group called Code.org Advocacy Coalition, only 61% of Ohio public high schools offer a computer science course. Our neighboring states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Indiana have a rate anywhere from 75% to 91%.
'We have to change the narrative in our education system,' Carfagna said.
The access to these courses dwindles for small schools and rural schools, and young women take the course at a much lower rate than young men.
'We need to make sure that everybody in Ohio, not just in good school systems that have the money and are attractive to teachers, we need to make sure that it is available to students every place,' Cirino said.
'The importance is is that [students] get the work and they'll be able to be those employees that our manufacturers and everybody else needs,' state Sen. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) said.
Even for students who are not necessarily interested in the field, lawmakers and supporters said it is a good baseline to have, no matter what career a young student may want to pursue.
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Scott DiMauro at the Ohio Education Association said they may not come out opposed or supportive of the measure, but rather an interested party. He said he agrees with the basic concept of the bill: expanding access.
'It's great to provide opportunities for students to learn about computer science,' he said. 'It is an emerging field. It's a skill set that I think is important.'
DiMauro worries about how exactly the class would be implemented, including things like providing the programs, technology, or even staff to teach the course.
'I think any time the state imposes a mandate on school districts, have to make sure that they're providing the resources,' DiMauro said.
'School systems do have a responsibility for making sure that their curriculum is suited to the growing and changing needs of the students and the companies that are hiring students that are graduating,' Cirino said. 'I don't think it's the state's full responsibility to provide the funding to do this, to execute the bill. '
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State Rep. Gayle Manning (R- North Ridgeville) said schools can get creative and districts may not even need to hire new staff.
'Even though [a teacher at the school] might teach math if they got a degree in computer science, then they could also teach that,' she said.
Two years ago, Ohio allocated $8 million in the state operating budget to train teachers. The sponsors of this new bill said that is just a starting point and more money may be allocated in the future.
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