Washington House votes to count computer science for math, science credit

March 12, 2013 at 1:52 pm by Taylor Soper, GeekWire

Via Stand.org.

 

In overwhelming fashion, the Washington State House voted 95-3 to pass a new bill in the Washington State Legislature that may allow computer science classes to count as a math or science requirement toward high school graduation.

The bill now moves onto the Senate.

Currently, Washington high schoolers who take a computer science class don’t receive a math or science credit. HB 1472 would enable this and “provide initiatives to improve and expand access to computer science education.”

A Washington STEM survey found that 3 in 4 voters feel that CSE classes should count for math or science credit instead of just an elective. There are currently nine other states that allow for this.
Washington organization Stand for Children has set up a petition you can sign encouraging lawmakers to pass the bill.

Reach staff reporter Taylor Soper at taylor@geekwire.com  or on Twitter @Taylor_Soper