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.
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))