Senate panel advances bill requiring computer science credit for graduation
March 20, 2025 | 2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia
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A Senate committee on Wednesday reported House Bill 2411, as amended, to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. The bill would require, beginning with the entering ninth-grade class in the 2027–28 school year, that a public high school student earn one unit of credit in a high-quality computer science course before graduation; the credit may be earned in grades 8 through 12.
Counsel told the committee the course must meet or exceed curriculum standards established by the State Board and be available in a traditional classroom setting; the bill also allows the computer science credit to substitute for one math credit or one personalized education plan credit when the course is relevant to the student’s program of study. Counsel noted the State Board is required to adopt rules and maintain an approved list of courses that meet the requirement.
Committee members discussed whether language in the bill should refer to private, parochial and denominational schools; Senator from Raleigh offered a cleanup amendment to remove those four words from prior code references, arguing curriculum mandates should not dictate private entities. The chair asked for a division on that proposed change when members raised hands; the committee ultimately proceeded with consideration and later voted to report the bill "as amended." Senators also asked whether the measure imposes an unfunded mandate; counsel said the change does not add a new funding obligation beyond current practice.
The vice chair moved that House Bill 2411, as amended, be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the motion carried by voice vote. The substitute includes a proposed strike-and-insert version clarifying that the credit may be used for admission to higher education institutions (per the strike-and-insert language noted to the committee).
What happens next: the committee reported HB 2411, as amended, to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass; the State Board of Education will be responsible for adopting rules and an approved course list that meet the statutory standard.
Counsel told the committee the course must meet or exceed curriculum standards established by the State Board and be available in a traditional classroom setting; the bill also allows the computer science credit to substitute for one math credit or one personalized education plan credit when the course is relevant to the student’s program of study. Counsel noted the State Board is required to adopt rules and maintain an approved list of courses that meet the requirement.
Committee members discussed whether language in the bill should refer to private, parochial and denominational schools; Senator from Raleigh offered a cleanup amendment to remove those four words from prior code references, arguing curriculum mandates should not dictate private entities. The chair asked for a division on that proposed change when members raised hands; the committee ultimately proceeded with consideration and later voted to report the bill "as amended." Senators also asked whether the measure imposes an unfunded mandate; counsel said the change does not add a new funding obligation beyond current practice.
The vice chair moved that House Bill 2411, as amended, be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the motion carried by voice vote. The substitute includes a proposed strike-and-insert version clarifying that the credit may be used for admission to higher education institutions (per the strike-and-insert language noted to the committee).
What happens next: the committee reported HB 2411, as amended, to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass; the State Board of Education will be responsible for adopting rules and an approved course list that meet the statutory standard.
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