SB 558 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Requiring computer science course prior to graduation

West Virginia's SB 558 requires public high school students to earn at least one-half credit in a computer science course to graduate, starting with the 2027-2028 school year for ninth graders. The bill defines "computer science" as studying programming, algorithms, and computer principles - not basic computer skills like word processing - and mandates courses meet state standards, offered in person unless not feasible (then allowing blended or online options). Schools must list approved courses by 2026, and if a computer science course fulfills a math or science requirement, transcripts must note it as equivalent for college admissions. The law also requires the State Board of Education to create rules supporting teacher capacity and course flexibility.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Last action Feb 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope and clarify implementation details for requiring high school students to take a computer science course. The Committee Substitute version adds clearer definitions, specifies that courses must be offered in traditional classrooms unless infeasible, and requires transcript notation when computer science courses fulfill math or science credits. It also broadens teacher licensing flexibility and adds a requirement for the State Board to update standards to include foundational computer science concepts.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include more detailed requirements for course delivery methods, transcript notation for credit substitution, and teacher licensing flexibility, making implementation clearer for schools.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that computer science courses must be offered in a traditional classroom setting unless it is not feasible for a school district to do so.

Added requirement that if a computer science course fulfills math or science credit, the school district must denote the course as equivalent to a high school math or science course on the student's transcript for higher education admission purposes.

Modified the credit substitution rule to require the State Board to adopt rules detailing how computer science can fulfill other graduation requirements, with emphasis on maximizing flexibility for students.

Added requirement that the State Board update computer science standards to include high school introductory computer science courses with foundational concepts.

Added requirement that the State Board adopt rules to ensure schools can obtain necessary teacher capacity, including flexible licensing options like authorization or endorsement.

Added provision allowing the State Board to adopt additional rules deemed necessary to administer the section.

DEFINITION

Added explicit definition of 'computer science' to exclude everyday uses like keyboarding, word processing, digital literacy, or internet access.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

To Finance

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Committee

To Education

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Committee

To Education then Finance

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors