This bill proposes the addition of a new section, 18-2-12a, to the Code of West Virginia, mandating that public high school students must earn one unit of credit in a computer science course approved by the West Virginia Department of Education before graduation, starting with the ninth-grade class of the 2025-2026 school year. Importantly, this requirement will not increase the total number of credits needed for graduation. The computer science credit can fulfill one of several existing graduation requirements, including credits in Mathematics (with certain exclusions), Science (with exclusions), Career and Technical Education (CTE), or Electives (excluding personal finance).

Furthermore, the bill allows students to earn multiple credits for approved computer science courses, which can be used to offset other graduation requirements. It also stipulates that students may begin fulfilling the computer science requirement as early as the eighth grade, although any course taken at that level will not count towards the four specified graduation requirements once they enter ninth grade. This initiative aims to enhance computer science education in West Virginia's public high schools.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-12a