School aims to teach us what we need to know to succeed. With this in mind, California assemblymember Marc Berman introduced this February a bill that would require high school students to take a computer science class as a graduation requirement. The average American spends seven hours every day using technology. Constant technological advancements are causing serious changes in how we conduct day-to-day life.
Known as Assembly Bill 2097, Berman’s legislation would require all California school districts to offer a computer science class by 2026 and make the course a requirement for high school graduation by 2030.
This is Berman’s second attempt in the last two years to write such legislation. His previous bill, AB 1054, failed in large part due to its costliness.
2030 might seem far away, but the success of AB 2097 will be determined in the next few months. The California State Assembly’s legislative calendar for 2024 states that the last day for bills to pass both state houses is August 31, and the last day for Governor Gavin Newsom to sign bills is September 30.
AB 2097 would see California as the sixth state to require a computer science class for high school graduation, following Arkansas, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
This bill is especially relevant here in Silicon Valley, one of the tech capitals of the world.
“Even in Silicon Valley, too many students who grow up in the shadows of global tech companies are not gaining the skills they need to one day work at those companies,” Berman said in a California Department of Education news release on February 6.
Supporters of this legislation include the California Chamber of Commerce, College Board, and computer science-oriented organizations like Code.org. However, large education advocacy groups including the California Federation of Teachers and the California High School District Coalition oppose this bill.
Some students are skeptical of the change.
“I don’t see myself using computer science after high school, so it wouldn’t really benefit me,” senior Darrion Wesley said. “If people aren’t interested in something, they’re not going to benefit from a class about it.”
“A required computer science class would just add more pressure for college,” junior Shantal Cisneros said. “Coding isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The class should just be an elective.”
Others see it differently.
“Taking computer science prepares us for life after high school,” junior Devin Hathi said. “It teaches us necessary skills about memorization, organization, and typing. Computer science is becoming more relevant in today’s world for most jobs, so I think it could potentially be beneficial for a lot of people.”
“I take computer science right now, and I think it’s pretty useful,” senior Raymond Liu said. “If it was required, everyone would get to try it out. You don’t know if you’re going to enjoy something or not until you try it.”
This is an ongoing story, please check the website for updates.
