A team at the Mississippi Department of Education is assessing the needs of nearly 900 public schools state wide, to ensure computer science learning takes place at every grade level. Aimee Brown is the Director of Career Technical Education. She says middle and high schools currently offer some courses. Brown says the biggest task is incorporating computer science into the elementary school curriculum. The Mississippi Computer Science and Cyber Education Quality Act has benchmarks school districts must meet.
"Starting with the 2022-23 school year. I know that we have to have 50 percent of our elementary schools offering computer science instruction at every grade level," said Brown.
The following year the remaining 50 percent must provide computer science learning weekly. There are deadlines for middle and high schools as well. Programming, cyber security and artificial intelligence are among the subjects every school must teach. Joe Nelson is superintendent of the Clarksdale Municipal School District. He says computer science education is important because that's where the job market is going and Mississippi students must be prepared.
"It's very vital that we educate our students but also be able to teach them skills they'll be able to come out of high school and go to work," said Nelson.
The Mississippi Department of Education must present a report with a strategic plan for computer science curriculum to the governor and legislators by January 1.
