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 372 Engrossed 2025 Regular Session Hughes
Abstract: Provides relative to computer science as a requirement for high school graduation.
Relative to the requirement of completion of a one unit Computer Science course for:
(1)Graduation from a public high school, including charter schools. Present law applies to
students who enter the ninth grade during the 2026-2027 school year and thereafter.
Proposed law (R.S. 17:280.3(A)(1)) changes this requirement to apply to students who enter
the ninth grade during the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter.
(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. Further requires that one of these 11 credits be Computer
Science for students who enter the ninth grade during the 2025-2026 school year and
thereafter. Proposed law (R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(f)) changes this requirement to apply to
students who enter the ninth grade during the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter.
(3)A TOPS award. Present law (R.S. 17:5025) 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. Further requires that one of these five
credits be Computer Science for students graduating in the 2028-2029 school year and
thereafter. Proposed law changes this requirement to apply to students who graduate during
the 2030-2031 school year and thereafter.
(4)A TOPS-Tech award. Present law (R.S. 17:5026(A)) 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. Further requires that one of these 11 credits
be Computer Science for students graduating in the 2028-2029 school year and thereafter.
Proposed law changes this requirement to apply to students who graduate during the 2030-
2031 school year and thereafter.
Present law requires each public school, including charter schools, to provide instruction in computer
science as follows:
(1)Elementary school: prior to the 2027-2028 school year.
(2)Middle school: prior to the 2026-2027 school year. (3)High school: prior to the 2026-2027 school year.
Proposed law (R.S. 17:280.3) changes the timing of this requirement to the beginning of such school
years.
(Amends R.S. 17:5025.7(intro. para.) and 5026(F)(intro. para); Repeals Section 6(A) and (D) of Act
No. 211 of the 2024 R.S.)