Requires school district boards to ensure all schools offer computer science education in all grades.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
Senate Bill 541
Ordered by the Senate April 10
Including Senate Amendments dated April 10
Sponsored by Senator SOLLMAN (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: The Act says that schools have to teach computer science classes to students in all
grades. (Flesch Readability Score: 84.8).
Requires school district boards to ensure all schools offer computer science education in all
grades. Includes computer science in content areas that must be offered in schools.
Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to computer science education; creating new provisions; amending ORS 329.025 and 329.045;
and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of ORS chapter 329.
SECTION 2. (1) Each school district board shall ensure that:
(a) All schools of the school district with any grade from kindergarten through grade
eight offer computer science education and computational thinking experiences at all grade
levels; and
(b) All schools of the school district with any grade from grade 9 through 12 offer at least
two computer science courses, at least one of which is a foundational computer science
course.
(2) The Department of Education shall develop and maintain programming to:
(a) Support current teachers in expanding their capacity to teach computer science
courses, including integrating computational thinking and artificial intelligence into existing
classes and curricula; and
(b) Support and expand equitable access to culturally responsive and sustainable com-
puter science education for all students.
(3) The department may hire permanent staff for the purpose of carrying out the
department’s duties specified in this section.
(4) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to carry out this section.
SECTION 3.
ORS 329.025 is amended to read:
329.025. It is the intent of the Legislative Assembly to maintain a system of public elementary
and secondary schools that allows students, parents, teachers, administrators, school district boards
and the State Board of Education to be accountable for the development and improvement of the
public school system. The public school system shall have the following characteristics:
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 791
A-Eng. SB 541
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(1) Provides equal and open access and educational opportunities for all students in the state
regardless of their linguistic background, culture, race, gender, capability or geographic location;
(2) Assumes that all students can learn and establishes high, specific skill and knowledge ex-
pectations and recognizes individual differences at all instructional levels;
(3) Provides each student an education experience that supports academic growth beyond profi-
ciency in established academic content standards and encourages students to attain aspirational
goals that are individually challenging;
(4) Provides special education, compensatory education, linguistically and culturally appropriate
education and other specialized programs to all students who need those services;
(5) Supports the physical and cognitive growth and development of students;
(6) Provides students with a solid foundation in the skills of reading, writing, problem solving
and communication;
(7) Provides opportunities for students to learn, think, reason, retrieve information, use tech-
nology and work effectively alone and in groups;
(8) Provides for rigorous academic content standards and instruction in mathematics, science,
language arts, history, geography, economics, civics, higher education and career path skills, per-
sonal financial education, physical education, health, the arts [ and], world languages and computer
science;
(9) Provides increased learning time;
(10) Provides students an educational background to the end that they will function successfully
in a constitutional republic, a participatory democracy and a multicultural nation and world;
(11) Provides students with the knowledge and skills that will provide the opportunities to suc-
ceed in the world of work, as members of families and as citizens;
(12) Provides students with the knowledge and skills that lead to an active, healthy lifestyle;
(13) Provides students with the knowledge and skills to take responsibility for their decisions
and choices;
(14) Provides opportunities for students to learn through a variety of teaching strategies;
(15) Emphasizes involvement of parents and the community in the total education of students;
(16) Transports children safely to and from school;
(17) Ensures that the funds allocated to schools reflect the uncontrollable differences in costs
facing each district;
(18) Ensures that local schools have adequate control of how funds are spent to best meet the
needs of students in their communities; and
(19) Provides for a safe, educational environment.
SECTION 4.
ORS 329.045 is amended to read:
329.045. (1)(a) In order to achieve the goals contained in ORS 329.025, the State Board of Edu-
cation shall regularly and periodically review and revise its Common Curriculum Goals, performance
indicators and diploma requirements.
(b) The review and revision conducted under this section shall:
(A) Include Essential Learning Skills and rigorous academic content standards in mathematics,
science, language arts, history, geography, economics, civics, higher education and career path
skills, personal financial education, physical education, health, the arts [ and], world languages and
computer science.
(B) Involve teachers and other educators, parents of students and other citizens and shall pro-
vide ample opportunity for public comment.
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(C) Encourage increased learning time. As used in this subparagraph, “increased learning
time” means a schedule that encompasses a longer school day, week or year for the purpose of in-
creasing the total number of school hours available to provide:
(i) Students with instruction in core academic subjects, including mathematics, science, language
arts, history, geography, economics, civics, higher education and career path skills, personal finan-
cial education, the arts [and], world languages and computer science ;
(ii) Students with instruction in subjects other than the subjects identified in sub-subparagraph
(i) of this subparagraph, including health and physical education;
(iii) Students with the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities that contribute to a
well-rounded education, including learning opportunities that may be based on service, experience
or work and that may be provided through partnerships with other organizations; and
(iv) Teachers with the opportunity to collaborate, plan and engage in professional development
within and across grades and subjects.
(c) Nothing in this subsection prevents a school district or public charter school from main-
taining control over course content, format, materials and teaching methods.
(2) The State Board of Education shall continually review and revise all adopted academic con-
tent standards necessary for students to successfully transition to the next phase of their education.
(3)(a) School districts and public charter schools must offer students instruction in mathematics,
science, language arts, history, geography, economics, civics, higher education and career path
skills, personal financial education, physical education, health, the arts [ and], world languages and
computer science.
(b) Instruction required under paragraph (a) of this subsection must:
(A) Meet the academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education; and
(B) Meet the requirements adopted by the State Board of Education and the board of the school
district or public charter school.
SECTION 5.
ORS 329.045, as amended by section 1, chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2019, section 6,
chapter 178, Oregon Laws 2021, section 1, chapter 328, Oregon Laws 2023, and section 7, chapter
564, Oregon Laws 2023, is amended to read:
329.045. (1)(a) In order to achieve the goals contained in ORS 329.025, the State Board of Edu-
cation shall regularly and periodically review and revise its Common Curriculum Goals, performance
indicators and diploma requirements.
(b) The review and revision conducted under this section shall:
(A) Include Essential Learning Skills and rigorous academic content standards in mathematics,
science, language arts, history, geography, economics, civics, higher education and career path
skills, personal financial education, physical education, health, the arts [ and], world languages and
computer science.
(B) Ensure that the academic content standards for history, geography, economics and civics
include sufficient instruction on the histories, contributions and perspectives of individuals who:
(i) Are Native American;
(ii) Are of African, Asian, Pacific Island, Chicano, Latino, Middle Eastern or Jewish descent;
(iii) Are women;
(iv) Have disabilities;
(v) Are immigrants or refugees; or
(vi) Are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
(C) Involve teachers and other educators, parents of students and other citizens and shall pro-
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vide ample opportunity for public comment.
(D) Encourage increased learning time. As used in this subparagraph, “increased learning
time” means a schedule that encompasses a longer school day, week or year for the purpose of in-
creasing the total number of school hours available to provide:
(i) Students with instruction in core academic subjects, including mathematics, science, language
arts, history, geography, economics, civics, higher education and career path skills, personal finan-
cial education, the arts [and], world languages and computer science ;
(ii) Students with instruction in subjects other than the subjects identified in sub-subparagraph
(i) of this subparagraph, including health and physical education;
(iii) Students with the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities that contribute to a
well-rounded education, including learning opportunities that may be based on service, experience
or work and that may be provided through partnerships with other organizations; and
(iv) Teachers with the opportunity to collaborate, plan and engage in professional development
within and across grades and subjects.
(c) Nothing in this subsection prevents a school district or public charter school from main-
taining control over course content, format, materials and teaching methods.
(2) The State Board of Education shall continually review and revise all adopted academic con-
tent standards necessary for students to successfully transition to the next phase of their education.
(3)(a) School districts and public charter schools must offer students instruction in mathematics,
science, language arts, history, geography, economics, civics, higher education and career path
skills, personal financial education, physical education, health, the arts [ and], world languages and
computer science.
(b) Instruction required under paragraph (a) of this subsection must:
(A) Meet the academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education; and
(B) Meet the requirements adopted by the State Board of Education and the board of the school
district or public charter school.
SECTION 6.
Notwithstanding section 2 (1) of this 2025 Act and the amendments to ORS
329.025 and 329.045 by sections 3 to 5 of this 2025 Act, a school district is not required to first
offer computer science courses until the 2028-2029 school year.
SECTION 7. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the Department of Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $5,000,000, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of
section 2 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 8. This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
July 1, 2025.
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