[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 141 (Thursday, August 23, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5910-S5911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE HIGH SCHOOL CODES ACT

  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I come to the floor to speak about the 
importance of teaching computer science and coding in our education 
system. Throughout the United States and especially in my home State of 
Washington, our internet economy is booming. Nationwide it represents 7 
percent of our GDP, which makes up 13 percent of Washington State's 
economy. In Washington State, over 13,000 internet companies provide 
more than a quarter of a million jobs.
  Every student in America should be taught the tools they need to 
enter our 21st century economy. Every student in the United States 
should have the opportunity to learn about the internet, and 
algorithms, and apps. This is a skills gap we have to close, and that 
is why I joined with my colleague from Louisiana, Senator Cassidy, to 
introduce the High School CODES Act earlier this year.
  Senator Cassidy and I have long considered and spoken about the 
importance of allowing students to have the ability fulfill a math, 
science, or language requirement with a coding class.
  That is why Senator Cassidy and I were pleased to include language in 
the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act that the President signed into law yesterday. The 
language in the bill would allow Federal funds to support ``efforts to 
expand, develop, and implement programs to increase the students' 
opportunity for rigorous courses'' in coding and computer science and 
``support statewide efforts to create access to implementation of 
coding and computer science.'' Additionally, Senator Cassidy and I were 
pleased to get an amendment included in the appropriations bill that 
highlights the importance of a dedicated funding stream for coding 
courses in K-12 education.
  During the Carl D. Perkins markup negotiations both the majority and 
minority agreed to include strong report language that captures the 
intent of our original bill, S. 3122, the High School CODES Act. 
Additionally, we are pleased that Senator Alexander agreed to send a 
letter to Education Secretary DeVos expressing the same.
  I ask Senator Cassidy, is it your understanding that the purpose of 
our legislation is to incentivize States to allow coding classes be 
used in lieu of advanced math, science, or foreign language 
requirements?
  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I, too, want to emphasize the importance 
of introducing young students to computer science and coding courses as 
part of their education. I thank my colleague and friend, Senator 
Cantwell, for working with me on this issue. The answer is yes. Our 
legislation, the High School CODES Act, will incentivize states to 
allow coding and computer science classes to satisfy an advanced math, 
science, or foreign language graduation credit.
  Now, this is not to replace the basic math, science, and foreign 
language classes all students need, but to allow students who do not 
need to take Calculus II or III to instead take a computer science or 
coding course. The CODES Act does not mandate curriculum on States; it 
gives them the flexibility to provide students with the type of 
education that best fits their needs. It gives students more 
opportunity to succeed in our rapidly changing economy.
  According to code.org, computing occupations are the No. 1 source of 
all new wages in America and make up over half of all projected new 
jobs in STEM fields; yet, computer science is marginalized throughout 
our education system, with fewer than half of U.S. schools offering any 
computer science course, and only 8 percent of STEM graduates studying 
it.
  In my home State of Louisiana, there are currently more than 2,300 
open computing jobs. The average salary for a computing occupation in 
Louisiana is approximately $67,600, about $26,000 higher than the 
average salary in my State.
  I applaud the State legislature for creating the LaSTEM Advisory 
Council to oversee the creation and delivery of STEM programs in 
Louisiana and for the LA Board of Elementary and Secondary Education 
for approving new STEM pathways for students allowing new, industry-
based courses to count towards math and sciences for graduation.
  In addition to thanking Senator Cantwell, I want to thank education 
committee Chairman Alexander for his support for including provisions 
in the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act that effectively captures the original intent of our 
bipartisan bill. We are also pleased the chairman agreed to report 
language and a letter to Education Secretary DeVos expressing the 
intent of the provisions. Lastly, I am pleased that Senator Cantwell 
and my amendment is included in the minibus appropriations bill 
highlighting the importance of funding for coding courses in K-12 
education.
  These are positive steps that will give more students the opportunity 
to take computer science and coding classes.

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