HLS 24RS-416 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 264
BY REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES
CURRICULA: Adds computer science as a high school graduation requirement and
requires teacher preparation programs to include computer science education
1 AN ACT
2
3To amend and reenact R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(b), (c), and (f), 5025(2)(b), (3)(c), and (8), and
4 5026(A)(2)(c), (3)(b), and (5) and to enact R.S. 17:7.2(A)(9), 280.3, 3996(B)(82),
5 5025(9), 5025.7, and 5026(F), to provide relative to curricula; to revise the courses
6 required in the high school career major program; to add Computer Science as a
7 required high school course; to require teacher education programs include computer
8 science education; to provide for alignment with the core curriculum required for
9 qualification for TOPS awards; to provide relative to the powers and duties of the
10 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; to provide for applicability; to
11 provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
12Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. This Act may be known and shall be cited as the "Computer Science
14Education Advancement Act".
15 Section 2. R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(b), (c), and (f), 5025(2)(b), (3)(c), and (8), and
165026(A)(2)(c), (3)(b), and (5) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:3996(B)(82),
175025(9), 5025.7, and 5026(F) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
18 §183.3. Career major; description; curriculum and graduation requirements
19 * * *
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1 B.
2 * * *
3 (2) The course requirements for the career major shall consist of the
4 following:
5 * * *
6 (b) At least four mathematics credits, including Algebra I, Algebra I Part
7 One and Algebra I Part Two, or an applied or hybrid Algebra course; Geometry or
8 an applied Geometry course; Financial Literacy as provided for in R.S. 17:270; and
9 one additional mathematics course from among the following: Math Essentials,
10 Business Math, Algebra II, Algebra III, Advanced Math - Functions and Statistics,
11 Advanced Math - Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Computer Science, or comparable
12 Louisiana Technical College courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as
13 approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Integrated
14 Mathematics I, II, and III may be substituted for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra
15 II and shall equal three mathematics credits.
16 (c) At least two science credits, including one credit of Biology and one
17 additional course from among the following: Chemistry I, Earth Science,
18 Environmental Science, Physical Science, Agriscience I and Agriscience II (one
19 credit combined), Physics, Computer Science, or AP or IB Science courses.
20 * * *
21 (f) At least nine credits in Jump Start course sequences, workplace
22 experiences, and credentials. A student shall complete a regionally designed series
23 of Career and Technical Education Jump Start coursework and workplace-based
24 learning experiences leading to a statewide or regional Jump Start credential. This
25 shall include courses and workplace experiences specific to the credential, courses
26 related to foundational career skills requirements in Jump Start, and other courses,
27 including career electives, that the Jump Start regional team determines are
28 appropriate for the career major. One of these credits shall be Computer Science,
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HB NO. 264
1 unless Computer Science is taken to fulfill one credit as provided in Subparagraph
2 (b) or (c) of this Paragraph.
3 * * *
4 §3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
5 * * *
6 B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
7 except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
8 charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
9 Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
10 exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
11 applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
12 the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
13 * * *
14 (82) Computer Science; required instruction, R.S. 17:280.3.
15 * * *
16 §5025. High school core curriculum requirements; Opportunity, Performance,
17 Honors Awards
18 To be eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award pursuant
19 to this Chapter, a student shall have successfully completed a core curriculum which
20 consists of twenty units of high school course work as follows:
21 * * *
22 (2) Mathematics - Four Units
23 * * *
24 (b) One unit chosen from the following: Algebra III; Advanced Math
25 Functions and Statistics, Advanced Math-Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus, or Math
26 Methods I IB (Mathematical Studies SL); Calculus, AP Calculus AB, or Math
27 Methods II IB (Mathematics SL); AP Calculus BC; Probability and Statistics or AP
28 Statistics; IB Further Mathematics HL; IB Mathematics HL. IB Mathematics HL;
29 Computer Science.
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1 (3) Science - Four Units
2 * * *
3 (c) Two units chosen from the following: Earth Science; Environmental
4 Science; Physical Science; Agriscience I and Agriscience II (one unit combined);
5 Chemistry II, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry II; AP Environmental Science, or IB
6 Environmental Systems; Physics I, AP Physics I, AP Physics B, or IB Physics I; AP
7 Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, IB Physics II, or
8 AP Physics II; Biology II, AP Biology, or IB Biology II. IB Biology II; Computer
9 Science.
10 * * *
11 (8) Computer Science - one unit. This requirement shall be satisfied as
12 provided in Paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of this Section.
13 (9) For the purposes of this Section, any core curriculum course that is taken
14 by a student who has been identified as gifted pursuant to State Board of Elementary
15 and Secondary Education policy and that is taken in fulfillment of the student's
16 Individualized Education Program shall be considered a gifted course and shall fulfill
17 the core curriculum requirement in its given subject area.
18 * * *
19 §5025.7. High school core curriculum requirements; Opportunity, Performance, and
20 Honors Awards; students graduating in the 2027-2028 school year
21 To be eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award pursuant
22 to this Chapter, a student shall have successfully completed a core curriculum which
23 consists of twenty units of high school course work as follows:
24 (1) English - Four Units
25 (a) English I.
26 (b) English II.
27 (c) One unit chosen from the following: English III, AP English Language
28 Arts and Composition, or English III IB (Language A or Literature and
29 Performance).
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1 (d) One unit chosen from the following: English IV, AP English Literature
2 and Composition, or English IV IB (Language A or Literature and Performance).
3 (2) Mathematics - Four Units
4 (a) Algebra I (one unit), Geometry (one unit), and Algebra II (one unit).
5 Integrated Mathematics I, Integrated Mathematics II, and Integrated Mathematics III
6 may be substituted for the Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II sequence.
7 (b) One unit chosen from the following: Algebra III; Advanced Math
8 Functions and Statistics, Advanced Math-Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus, or Math
9 Methods I IB (Mathematical Studies SL); Calculus, AP Calculus AB, or Math
10 Methods II IB (Mathematics SL); AP Calculus BC; Probability and Statistics or AP
11 Statistics; IB Further Mathematics HL; IB Mathematics HL.
12 (3) Science - Four Units
13 (a) Biology I.
14 (b) Chemistry I.
15 (c) Two units chosen from the following: Earth Science; Environmental
16 Science; Physical Science; Agriscience I and Agriscience II (one unit combined);
17 Chemistry II, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry II; AP Environmental Science, or IB
18 Environmental Systems; Physics I, AP Physics I, AP Physics B, or IB Physics I; AP
19 Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, IB Physics II, or
20 AP Physics II; Biology II, AP Biology, or IB Biology II.
21 (4) Social Studies - Four Units
22 (a) One unit chosen from the following: U.S. History, AP US History, or IB
23 US History.
24 (b) One unit chosen from the following: Civics, Government, AP US
25 Government and Politics: Comparative, AP US Government and Politics: United
26 States.
27 (c) Two units chosen from the following: Western Civilization, European
28 History, or AP European History; World Geography, AP Human Geography, or IB
29 Geography; World History, AP World History, or World History IB; History of
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1 Religion; IB Economics, Economics, AP Macroeconomics, or AP Microeconomics;
2 African American History.
3 (5) Foreign Language or Computer Science - Two Units
4 (a) Foreign Language - the two units shall be in the same language, which
5 may include the following: AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP French Language
6 and Culture, AP German Language and Culture, AP Italian Language and Culture,
7 AP Japanese Language and Culture, AP Latin, AP Spanish Language and Culture,
8 French IV IB, French V IB, Spanish IV IB, and Spanish V IB.
9 (b) Computer Science - the two units shall be in principles, coding, and
10 programming, which may include the following: Computer Science I; Computer
11 Science II; Fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (Level 1); Advanced
12 JavaScript, Functional Programming, and Web Development (Level 2); AP
13 Computer Science A; AP Computer Science Principles; Computer Science Year One
14 IB; and Computer Science Year Two IB.
15 (6) Art - one unit chosen from the following: Performance course in Music,
16 Dance, or Theatre; Fine Arts Survey; Art I, II, III, and IV; Talented Art I, II, III, and
17 IV; Talented Music I, II, III, and IV; Talented Theater Arts I, II, III, and IV; Speech
18 III and Speech IV (one unit combined); AP Art History; AP Studio Art: 2-D Design;
19 AP Studio Art: 3-D Design; AP Studio Art: Drawing; AP Music Theory; Film
20 Study I IB; Film Study II IB; Music I IB; Music II IB; Art Design III IB; Art Design
21 IV IB; Theatre I IB; or Drafting.
22 (7) Financial Literacy - one unit.
23 (8) For the purposes of this Section, any core curriculum course that is taken
24 by a student who has been identified as gifted pursuant to State Board of Elementary
25 and Secondary Education policy and that is taken in fulfillment of the student's
26 Individualized Education Program shall be considered a gifted course and shall fulfill
27 the core curriculum requirement in its given subject area.
28 §5026. High school core curriculum requirements; TOPS-Tech
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1 A. To be eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter, the
2 student shall have successfully completed the core curriculum requirements of R.S.
3 17:5025 or the core curriculum defined as follows:
4 * * *
5 (2) Math - Four Units
6 * * *
7 (c) One or more units from the following: Algebra II, Math Essentials,
8 Business Math, Algebra III, Advanced Math - Functions and Statistics, Advanced
9 Math - Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Computer Science, or comparable Louisiana
10 Technical College courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by the
11 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Integrated Mathematics I, II,
12 and III may be substituted for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and shall equal
13 three mathematics credits.
14 (3) Science - Two Units
15 * * *
16 (b) One unit from the following: Chemistry I, Earth Science, Environmental
17 Science, Agriscience I and Agriscience II (both for one unit), Physical Science,
18 Physics, Computer Science, or AP or IB science courses.
19 * * *
20 (5) At least nine credits in Jump Start course sequences, workplace
21 experiences, and credentials. A student shall complete a regionally designed series
22 of Career and Technical Education Jump Start coursework and workplace-based
23 learning experiences leading to a statewide or regional Jump Start credential. This
24 shall include courses and workplace experiences specific to the credential, courses
25 related to foundational career skills requirements in Jump Start, and other courses,
26 including career electives, that the Jump Start regional team determines are
27 appropriate for the career major. One of these credits shall be Computer Science,
28 unless Computer Science is taken to fulfill one credit as provided in Paragraph (2)
29 or (3) of this Subsection.
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1 * * *
2 F. For a student graduating during the 2027-2028 school year to be eligible
3 for a TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter, the student shall have successfully
4 completed the core curriculum requirements of R.S. 17:5025 or the core curriculum
5 defined as follows:
6 (1) English - Four Units
7 (a) English I.
8 (b) English II.
9 (c) Two or more units from the following: English III, English IV, AP or IB
10 English courses, Business English, Technical Writing, or comparable Louisiana
11 Technical College courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by the
12 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
13 (2) Math - Four Units
14 (a) Algebra I, Algebra I Part One and Algebra I Part Two, or an applied or
15 hybrid algebra course (one unit), and Geometry or an applied Geometry course (one
16 unit).
17 (b) Financial Literacy (one unit).
18 (c) One or more units from the following: Algebra II, Math Essentials,
19 Business Math, Algebra III, Advanced Math - Functions and Statistics, Advanced
20 Math - Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus, or comparable Louisiana Technical College
21 courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by the State Board of
22 Elementary and Secondary Education. Integrated Mathematics I, II, and III may be
23 substituted for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and shall equal three
24 mathematics credits.
25 (3) Science - Two Units
26 (a) Biology.
27 (b) One unit from the following: Chemistry I, Earth Science, Environmental
28 Science, Agriscience I and Agriscience II (both for one unit), Physical Science,
29 Physics, or AP or IB science courses.
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1 (4) Social Studies - Two Units
2 (a) One unit from the following: U.S. History, AP U.S. History, or IB U.S.
3 History.
4 (b) One unit from the following: Civics, Government, AP U.S. Government
5 and Politics: Comparative, or AP U.S. Government and Politics: United States.
6 (5) At least nine credits in Jump Start course sequences, workplace
7 experiences, and credentials. A student shall complete a regionally designed series
8 of Career and Technical Education Jump Start coursework and workplace-based
9 learning experiences leading to a statewide or regional Jump Start credential. This
10 shall include courses and workplace experiences specific to the credential, courses
11 related to foundational career skills requirements in Jump Start, and other courses,
12 including career electives, that the Jump Start regional team determines are
13 appropriate for the career major.
14 Section 3. R.S. 17:7.2(A)(9) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
15 §7.2. Approved teacher education programs
16 A. In carrying out its responsibility to prescribe the qualifications and
17 provide for the certification of teachers under authority of R.S. 17:7(6), the State
18 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, subject to the constitutional power
19 and authority of the Board of Regents, the Board of Supervisors for the University
20 of Louisiana System, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and
21 Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of Supervisors of Southern
22 University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, shall establish qualifications
23 and requirements for the approval of teacher education programs from which
24 graduates may be certified. The qualifications and requirements established by the
25 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for an approved teacher
26 education program shall include but not be limited to the following:
27 * * *
28 (9) That the program include instruction on teaching students computer
29 science.
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1 * * *
2 Section 4. R.S. 17:280.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
3 §280.3. Computer science; required instruction
4 A.(1) Each public high school shall provide computer science instruction to
5 its students. Each public high school student shall successfully complete a one credit
6 Computer Science course as a requirement for high school graduation.
7 (2) Each public school with students in grades six through eight shall provide
8 instruction in exploratory computer science to its students.
9 (3) Each public elementary school shall provide instruction in the basics of
10 computer science and computational thinking.
11 B. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
12 promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Section.
13 Section 5. By June 30, 2024, the state Department of Education shall publish on its
14website and enact a plan to ensure sufficient computer science teacher capacity to carry out
15the provisions of this Act. The plan shall:
16 (1) Be initially based on the recommendations of the Louisiana Computer Science
17Education Advisory Commission.
18 (2) Provide options, including but not limited to online options, for alternative
19endorsement pathways for certificated teachers and teacher preparation program students to
20demonstrate competency that may result in a certification to teach computer science.
21 (3) Outline scholarship or state-funded training opportunities for teachers to gain
22certification or endorsement in computer science.
23 (4) Be updated by the state department as necessary.
24 Section 6.(A) The provisions of R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(b), (c), and (f) as amended by
25Section 2 of this Act shall apply to students who enter the ninth grade during the 2025-2026
26school year and thereafter.
27 (B) R.S. 17:3996(B)(82) as enacted by Section 2 of this Act shall be implemented
28beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
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1 (C) R.S. 17:7.2(A)(9) as enacted by Section 3 of this Act shall be implemented
2beginning on June 30, 2026.
3 (D) The provisions of R.S. 17:280.3(A) as enacted by Section 4 of this Act shall be
4implemented as follows:
5 (1) R.S. 17:280.3(A)(1) shall be initially implemented prior to the 2025-2026 school
6year and shall apply to students who enter the ninth grade during the 2025-2026 school year
7and thereafter.
8 (2) R.S. 17:280.3(A)(2) shall be initially implemented prior to the 2026-2027 school
9year.
10 (3) R.S. 17:280.3(A)(3) shall be initially implemented prior to the 2027-2028 school
11year.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 264 Original 2024 Regular Session Hughes
Abstract: Requires students to successfully complete a one unit Computer Science course
to grade from high school and to qualify for TOPS.
Proposed law requires completion of a one unit Computer Science course for:
(1)Graduation from a public high school.
(2)A high school career diploma. Present law requires a student to complete one
mathematics elective course, one science elective course, and nine credits in Jump
Start courses to be eligible for a career diploma. Proposed law requires that one of
these credits be Computer Science.
(3)A TOPS award. Present law requires a student to complete one mathematics elective
course, two science elective courses, and two units in either Foreign Language or
Computer Science to be eligible for a TOPS award. Proposed law requires that one
of these credits be Computer Science.
(4)A TOPS-Tech award. Present law requires a student to complete one mathematics
elective course, one science elective course, and nine credits in Jump Start courses
to be eligible for a TOPS-Tech award. Proposed law requires that one of these
credits be Computer Science.
Proposed law requires the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education to promulgate
rules to implement offering Computer Science courses.
Proposed law requires teacher preparation programs to include instruction on teaching
students computer science.
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Implementation required in part prior to the 2025-2026 school year; in part prior to the 2026-
2027 school year; in part prior to the 2027-2028 school year.
(Amends R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(b), (c), and (f), 5025(2)(b), (3)(c), and (8), and 5026(A)(2)(c),
(3)(b), and (5); Adds R.S. 17:7.2(A)(9), 280.3, 3996(B)(82), 5025(9), 5025.7, and 5026(F))
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