Kansas Board of Education votes to count Computer Science as a high school science credit

The Kansas Board of Education voted on Feb. 12 to adopt five recommendations for computer science reform in a 10-0 vote. 

The recommendations include allowing computer science to fulfill a core high-school science credit, creating a dedicated Department of Education computer science position and a state plan for expanding computer science, licensure endorsement and funding professional development for computer science teachers. 

The process of reforming computer science began two years ago when a two-day session was hosted by Garmin discussing the lack of computer science involvement in schools. From there, business and educational leaders began drafting computer science standards, which were passed by the board of education last spring.

Following the creation of these standards, several committee meetings were held to discuss the new change. After a year of negotiations, the bill was passed at their last meeting. 

At the meeting many guest speakers attended and spoke in support, including East parent Anita Newton who spoke on behalf of the Kansas City tech council and founder of Google Earth Brian McClendon. 

Several other companies supported the recommendations, including KC Tech Council, STEM Alliance, Flagship Kansas, Science City, and code.org. In addition, the board sent out an email which received over 200 individual signatures of support. 

 East teacher Susan Hallstrom believes that this new adaptation will cause students to take computer science as an easy way out of taking math or science, hurting them in the long run. 

“I think that the state of Kansas continues to lower the bar on academic rigor,” Hallstrom said. “In the long run, this not only hurts our students, but diminished the United States ability to compete in the global economy.”

With the new support, the Kansas Board of Education is finalizing implementation plans. According to CEO of KC tech council Ryan Weber, the goal is to have the plan fully implanted by the start of next school year.