Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PATRICIA EGAN JONES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires completion of a computer science class as part of the high school graduation requirements.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning high school graduation requirements and supplementing chapter 7C of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Beginning with the 2016-2017 grade nine class, the State Board of Education shall require each student to complete a course in computer science that includes, but is not limited to, instruction on computer programming, as part of the high school graduation requirements.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that beginning with the 2016-2017 grade nine class, the State Board of Education will require each student to complete a course in computer science that includes, but is not limited to, instruction on computer programming, as part of the high school graduation requirements.
Computer science is driving job growth and innovation, and more than half of projected jobs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are in computing occupations. Also, computer science is a foundational science for the digital age, and a fundamental knowledge of computer science is needed to prepare students for the 21st century, regardless of their ultimate field of study or occupation.