Bill Text: VA HB694 | 2020 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Students in grades 6, 7, and 8; computer science/introduction to technology course required.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-05 - Continued to 2021 with substitute in Education by voice vote [HB694 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB694-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-207.7 as follows:
§22.1-207.7. Students in grade six, seven, or eight; computer science or introduction to technology course required.
A. In order to ensure equitable access and exposure to computer science literacy and technology education and promote the knowledge of computational systems and their uses that is needed for responsible citizenship in a data-rich and interconnected world, each student shall complete during grade six, seven, or eight at least one semester-long or year-long computer science elective course or introduction to technology course.
B. Each course that satisfies the requirements of subsection A shall be aligned with the appropriate Standards of Learning and may include the following content: examining systems and resources of technology, solving problems in technology, introducing microcontrollers, exploring the designed world, computing systems, networks and the Internet, cybersecurity, data and analysis, algorithms and programming, and the impacts of computing.
C. No student shall be required to complete an end-of-course assessment for any course that satisfies the requirements of subsection A.
2. That the provisions of §22.1-207.7 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, shall become effective starting with students in grades six, seven, and eight in the 2025–2026 school year.
3. That the Board of Education shall create or amend any Standard of Learning necessary to implement the provisions of this act, to be effective no later than the start of the 2025–2026 school year.
4. That the Department of Education (i) shall confer with CodeVA to ensure that appropriate and no-cost training is available to teachers who teach any computer science elective course that satisfies the requirements of subsection A of §22.1-207.7 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act; (ii) shall confer with the Virginia Society for Technology in Education to ensure that appropriate training is available to teachers who teach any introduction to technology course that satisfies the requirements of subsection A of §22.1-207.7 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act; and (iii) may confer with any other organization that it deems appropriate, including the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing or the Virginia Manufacturers Association, to ensure that any such teacher is connected to real-world experiences in technology, computer science, and advanced manufacturing.
