Michigan new law mandates Computer Science classes in high schools

zohaibahd

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Forward-looking: Michigan has passed a new law requiring all public high schools to offer at least one computer science course starting in 2027, a way of boosting tech skills and preparing the future workforce. It essentially guarantees all students in the state will soon have access to at least some computer science education before graduating.

The bipartisan bill, signed into law last week by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, aims to increase technological literacy across the state. It mandates that every Michigan high school must provide an in-person computer science class meeting standards set by the state board of education. Virtual options are allowed if in-person is not possible, except for fully online schools.

The law was announced as part of a package promoting economic development. Whitmer emphasized positioning Michigan as an attractive place for innovation and advanced manufacturing. She framed the computer science requirement as aligning Michigan with the majority of other states while equipping students with critical thinking abilities needed to succeed in tomorrow's jobs.

Advocates who testified in support of the legislation included major tech companies such as Amazon and Microsoft, as well as nonprofit groups they fund like Code.org. Also backing the bill were the Computer Science Teachers Association and tech industry lobbyists like TechNet, whose members include Apple, Google, Meta, and others.

Their stance was that increasing access to computer science education should be a top priority. This ensures students can compete for well-paying, in-demand positions in fields driven by computing in the coming decades.

The new law defines computer science broadly as the study of computational principles, hardware, software, and their societal impacts – with a focus on creating new technologies rather than just using them.

It's unclear how many Michigan high schools already teach dedicated computer science courses meeting this definition. But the legislation signals state leaders and major employers recognize the growing importance of seeding those foundations earlier in the education pipeline.

Besides this law, Michigan passed another bill that provides tax incentives for data centers to locate in the state. House Bill 4906 extends a tax exemption on data center equipment investments, aiming to attract these operations and create jobs. Proponents say the data center growth enabled by these incentives could generate tens of millions in tax revenue to fund schools and services across Michigan communities.

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I'd like to mandate CIVICS be taught in schools.
Senior year in HS, our history class was a civics class and they also taught us about our rights, how to interact with police officers, how to navigate the legal systems, how to read a lease or contract, how to apply for loans, getting an ID/Passport, ect.

Didn't really appreciate all the work my dad did to make sure I got to goto a good private school until that class. Forgive the analogy, but that class was a massive red pill on how the world worked and my place in it. I did well academically, but that class was probably the most important class I ever took in high-school or college.
 
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I'd like to mandate CIVICS be taught in schools.
And Civics based on the reality of politics and basic economics, not just the love letter to a theoretical ideal of democracy which has only ever been achieved by the USA (and thus anything the US does must be right because democracy) that I went through!
 
Considering my high school in 1990 offered computer science classes, my guess is most schools that can afford it and have staff to teach it already do.
 
This is a smart move—tech literacy is becoming as essential as reading and writing. By requiring computer science in high schools, they’re not just preparing students for tech jobs but giving them tools to understand the digital world they live in.
 
I took Basic is 7th grade on TRS-80 model IIIs. In 11th grade I took PASCAL on IBM PC JRs. and this was in ALABAMA in the 1980s

Do they need "Computer Science" classes or "Computer Literacy" classes? The two are mutually exclusive.
 
This set's a great precedence. As a Cyber professional, I do feel that America is behind in this sector in the likes of China and Russia. From a national security perspective, this is much needed and I feel that ALL schools should include this in their education program.
 
Senior year in HS, our history class was a civics class and they also taught us about our rights, how to interact with police officers, how to navigate the legal systems, how to read a lease or contract, how to apply for loans, getting an ID/Passport, ect.

Didn't really appreciate all the work my dad did to make sure I got to goto a good private school until that class. Forgive the analogy, but that class was a massive red pill on how the world worked and my place in it. I did well academically, but that class was probably the most important class I ever took in high-school or college.
My Civics class had a lady stockbroker come in and do a class on the stock market, I invested $200 and today I get a $1000 a month in dividends from it!😍
 
I took Basic is 7th grade on TRS-80 model IIIs. In 11th grade I took PASCAL on IBM PC JRs. and this was in ALABAMA in the 1980s

Do they need "Computer Science" classes or "Computer Literacy" classes? The two are mutually exclusive.
"Computer Literacy" classes for sure!!!🤣🤣
 
I took Basic is 7th grade on TRS-80 model IIIs. In 11th grade I took PASCAL on IBM PC JRs. and this was in ALABAMA in the 1980s

Do they need "Computer Science" classes or "Computer Literacy" classes? The two are mutually exclusive.
I took computer programming in college in 1968, had a Honeywell 360 that you had to program with a computer language called Cobal on punch cards!WOW!😲 Got my first computer in 1998 with windows 98 on it and have built all my subsequent desk tops my self!😍😍
 
That mandate should have happened nationwide 20 years ago....now it's too late as Ai will be replacing all those students even before they graduate college.
I'm thinking the same thing. The job market is already over saturated and people I know are struggling to get jobs with computer science degrees or even years of experience. Then on top of AI is trying its hardest to replace them. I think it's a waste. Not to mention a lot of people don't enjoy it anyway.
 
I took computer programming in college in 1968, had a Honeywell 360 that you had to program with a computer language called Cobal on punch cards!WOW!😲 Got my first computer in 1998 with windows 98 on it and have built all my subsequent desk tops my self!😍😍
I actually took Cobal in college. I never used punch cards but my Dad did. I remember going to his work and seeing the machines. He kept one of his programs stored on a box of punch cards. I will have to ask my mom to look for it :)

The first computer I used was my grandfathers TRS-80 Model I in 1978. My first computer was a C64. My first modem was a 300 baud VIC Modem. I eventually worked my way up to a C128 with 2400 baud! Sold it all in hope of getting a Amiga 500 but 17 year old me bought a Car (I regret that). I was stuck using my Dad's Leading Edge Model M. An 8 mhz 8088.
 
I'm thinking the same thing. The job market is already over saturated and people I know are struggling to get jobs with computer science degrees or even years of experience. Then on top of AI is trying its hardest to replace them. I think it's a waste. Not to mention a lot of people don't enjoy it anyway.
What they need to teach is typing and computer literacy, wish I had taken Typing in high school! 😲
 
I took computer programming in college in 1968, had a Honeywell 360 that you had to program with a computer language called Cobal on punch cards!WOW!😲 Got my first computer in 1998 with windows 98 on it and have built all my subsequent desk tops my self!😍😍
The language name is COBOL, not Cobal.
 
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