SB249: SB249 "Quality Basic Education Act,"; beginning in the 2031-2032 school year, a computer science course shall be a high school graduation requirement; provide

Georgia law already requires schools to phase in computer science course offerings, with all high schools required to offer at least one course by the 2024-2025 school year. This bill goes further: starting in the 2031-2032 school year, every local board of education would have to require students to complete a computer science course or a career and technical education (CTAE) course that includes computer science content before they can graduate. The course could be taken in grades eight through 12, in person, online, or in a blended format, and completing it would not add to the total number of credits needed to graduate. Certain qualifying computer science or CTAE courses could also count toward other graduation requirements, such as one math, science, CTAE, foreign language, fine arts, or elective credit, with limits on how many math and science credits can be offset this way. The bill also updates the legislative findings behind the existing law and continues state grant funding for teacher training in computer science, subject to appropriations.

• Requires, starting in the 2031-2032 school year, that all Georgia high school students complete a computer science or computer science embedded CTAE course to graduate.
• Allows the required course to be taken in grades eight through 12 and delivered in a classroom, blended, or online format without adding to total graduation credits.
• Lets a qualifying computer science course also count as one credit toward math, science, CTAE, foreign language, fine arts, or elective graduation requirements, with restrictions.
• Caps how many math and science credits a student can offset using computer science courses, while placing no cap on CTAE or elective offsets.
• Directs the Department of Education and State Board of Education to set minimum criteria for approving CTAE courses embedded with computer science.
• Continues a state grant program, subject to appropriations, for professional development for teachers who teach computer science, along with an annual report to state leaders.

High school students and their families across Georgia, local school boards and superintendents who set graduation requirements, public school and state charter school teachers who deliver computer science instruction, and the Department of Education and State Board of Education, which oversee course standards and grant funding.

Students entering high school in the early 2030s would need to pass a computer science course to graduate, a new requirement layered onto existing coursework. Because certain courses can substitute for other credits, some students could meet this requirement without adding extra classes to their schedules.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-149.3, revising legislative findings about the shortage of computer science graduates and unfilled tech jobs in Georgia.
• Subsection (c)(4)(A) creates the new graduation requirement beginning in the 2031-2032 school year, allowing a computer science course or a CTAE course embedded with computer science to satisfy it.
• Subsection (c)(4)(B) specifies the required course must meet state content standards, be offered in multiple formats, and not increase total graduation credits.
• Subsection (c)(4)(C) allows a qualifying computer science course to also count toward one credit in math, science, CTAE, foreign language, fine arts, or electives, with exclusions for specific math and science courses.
• Subsection (c)(4)(D) allows a qualifying CTAE course embedded with computer science to count toward a CTAE or elective credit as well.
• Subsection (c)(4)(E) directs the Department of Education and State Board of Education to set criteria for approving CTAE courses embedded with computer science.
• Subsection (e) continues grant funding, subject to appropriations, for teacher training providers and requires an annual December 1 report to state leaders on training outcomes.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-24Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)Primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)

• computer science education
• high school graduation requirements
• Quality Basic Education Act
• K-12 curriculum
• teacher training grants