Louisiana is preparing to implement new computer science standards for students in grades K-12, following a law passed by the state Legislature in May. The law, known as Act 211, will require all public schools to offer computer science courses, beginning with middle and high schools in the 2026-2027 school year and elementary schools by 2027-2028.
The state Board of Education is set to review the new standards, which were developed by Louisiana educators, parents, and students. These standards aim to provide students with a comprehensive education in computer science, a field with growing demand in the state. Louisiana has thousands of open computing jobs, with an average salary of $82,545, but only about one-third of high schools offered basic computer science courses during the 2022-2023 school year.
Ashley Townsend, deputy chief of policy for the Louisiana Department of Education, emphasized the importance of teaching digital literacy to help students succeed in both college and the workforce. The new standards will introduce core concepts across all grade levels, including computing systems, networks, data analysis, programming, and the impacts of technology.
These standards are designed to be flexible, allowing teachers to incorporate computer science lessons into existing curricula. The goal is to ensure that students not only learn programming and digital skills but also improve in other academic areas.
If approved, the curriculum is expected to be finalized in February 2024, with teacher-training programs incorporating computer science by 2026.
