HB332 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David FaulknerRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Education, public K-12 schools, completion of approved computer science course required

Summary

HB332 would require every public K-12 student in Alabama to complete an approved computer science course to graduate, and it sets standards and timelines for CS education and digital literacy.

What This Bill Does

It expands the definition of computer science and requires all students to take an approved CS course to graduate, with CS standards and course approvals to be maintained by the state. The bill creates a phased rollout where high schools must offer CS starting in 2020-21, middle schools in 2021-22, and elementary schools in 2022-23, and it allows CS credits to count toward graduation in certain ways. By the class of 2031, students must earn at least one CS credit to demonstrate digital literacy, and CS credits may substitute for math or science credits under specific diploma paths; in-person CS instruction is required for high school unless impracticable, in which case a virtual option may be used with justification in annual reports. The act takes effect October 1, 2025, and requires standards and course lists to be approved and monitored by the Department of Education.

Who It Affects

• Public school students in Alabama, who will need to complete an approved CS course to graduate and may earn CS credits that count toward graduation requirements and college/career readiness.
• Public schools and districts (including teachers and administrators), which must offer approved CS courses at the required grade levels, provide high-quality professional learning for teachers, ensure courses meet state standards, and handle in-person vs. virtual delivery and reporting.

Key Provisions

• Expands the definition of computer science to include study of hardware/software design, algorithms, and emerging technologies (like artificial intelligence) with a focus on creating new technologies.
• Requires all public K-12 students to complete an approved computer science course to graduate, and establishes standards and an approved course list for CS instruction.
• Implements a grade-level rollout requiring HS CS offerings from 2020-21, MS CS instruction from 2021-22, and ES CS basics from 2022-23, with courses able to be integrated into other content areas.
• Allows HS CS instruction to be delivered in-person; virtual/distance options may be used only when in-person instruction is not practicable, with an annual report providing the rationale.
• Beginning with the graduating class of 2021, a CS course completed may be treated as either a mathematics or science credit for graduation and college admissions purposes, subject to district decisions on credit substitution.
• Beginning with the graduating class of 2031, all students must earn at least one department-approved high school–level CS credit to demonstrate digital literacy, and each CS credit can count toward various credit types (math, science, CTE, or elective) as determined by the local superintendent.
• CS credits may replace math or science credits only for students on the standard diploma pathway.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education