Education-computer science and computational thinking.

ORIGINAL
Senate
ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0029

ENROLLED ACT NO. 48,

SENATE

SIXTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2018 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to education; adding computer science and computational thinking to the state educational program; eliminating keyboarding from the state educational program; providing that computer science courses may satisfy certain high school graduation requirements and certain Hathaway scholarship requirements; providing a date by which the state board of education must adopt uniform content and performance standards for computer science; requiring a report; repealing an obsolete provision; providing applicability; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section
1
.

W.S.
21
‑
2
‑
304(a)(iii)(C),
21
‑
9
‑
101(b)(i) by creating a new subparagraph (O) and (iii)
(C) and
21
‑
16
‑
1307(b)(i)(D) and (d)(i)(D)
are amended to read:

21
‑
2
‑
304
.

Duties of the state board of education.

(a)

The state board of education shall:

(iii)

By rule and regulation and in consultation and coordination with local school districts, prescribe uniform student content and performance standards for the common core of knowledge and the common core of skills specified under W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
101(b), and promulgate uniform standards for programs addressing the special needs of student populations specified under W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
101(c) that ensure these student populations are provided the opportunity to learn the common core of knowledge and skills as prescribed by the uniform student content and performance standards pursuant to this paragraph. Student content and performance standards prescribed under this paragraph shall include standards for graduation from any high school within any school district of this state. The
ability to prescribe content and performance standards shall not be construed to give the state board of education the authority to prescribe textbooks or curriculum which the state board is hereby forbidden to do. Graduation standards imposed under this paragraph shall require the successful completion of the following components, as evidenced by passing grades or by the successful performance on competency
‑
based equivalency examinations:

(C)

Three (3) school years of science
, one (1) year of which may be satisfied by one (1) year of computer
sceince
; and

21
‑
9
‑
101
.

Educational programs for schools; standards; core of knowledge and skills; special needs programs; class size requirements; cocurricular activities.

(b)

Each school district within the state shall provide educational programs sufficient to meet uniform student content and performance standards at the level established by the state board of education in the following areas of knowledge and skills:

(i)

Common core of knowledge:

(O)

Computer science.

(iii)

Common core of skills:

(C)

Keyboarding

Computational thinking
and computer applications;

21
‑
16
‑
1307
.

Success curriculum; test standards.

(b)

The success curriculum required to qualify for honor or performance scholarship eligibility under this article for students graduating from high school in the 2018
‑
2019 school year and each school year thereafter shall be as follows:

(i)

Math – four (4) years of math to include those specified in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of this paragraph. Courses which are the functional equivalent of the specified courses, including courses taken before grade nine (9), may be used to satisfy the level of the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of this paragraph:

(D)

An additional math
or computer science
course taken in grades nine (9) through twelve (12)
.
A

computer science course shall
not satisfy a requirement of this paragraph if the computer science course i
s
used to satisfy
one (1) year of science under
paragraph
(iii) of this
sub
section
.

(d)

The success curriculum required to qualify for opportunity scholarship eligibility under this article for students graduating from high school in the 2010
‑
2011 school year and each school year thereafter shall be as follows:

(i)

Math – four (4) years of math to include those specified in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of this paragraph. Courses which are the functional equivalent of the specified courses, including courses taken before grade nine (9), may be used to satisfy the level of the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of this paragraph:

(D)

An additional math
or computer science

course taken in grades nine (9) through twelve (12)
.
A computer science course
shall
not satisfy a requirement of this paragraph if the computer science course is used to satisfy one (1) year of sc
ience under paragraph
(iii) of this
sub
section
.

Section 2
.

W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
101(b)(i)(M) is repealed.

Section 3.

(a)

The department of education shall conduct a thorough analysis of all changes and costs necessary to implement this act in every school district in the state. In conducting this analysis the department shall conduct site visits and shall consult with Wyoming school districts currently offering computer science programs and courses. The department shall report the results of the analysis to the joint education interim committee not later than
October 31, 2018
.

(b)

The department of education shall work with the professional teaching standards board, nonprofit organizations and industry to develop a computer science endorsement for elementary, middle and high schools that can be implemented in every district in the state.

(c)

By January 1, 2022, the state board of education shall promulgate uniform student content and performance standards for computer science to be effective beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.

Section 4
.

Amendments to
W.S. 21
‑
2
‑
304 and 21
‑
16
‑
1307
contained in this act shall only apply to those students graduating high school on or after
July 1, 2018
.

Section 5.

To the extent this act conflicts with 2018 House Bill 53, this act shall be given precedence and shall prevail over any conflicting provision.

Section
6
.

T
his act is effective July 1, 201
8
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the
Senate
.

Chief Clerk

1