The Senate Education Committee unanimously voted to report two pieces of legislation to the full Senate, 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31.
Senate Bill 267, which would require the State Board of Education to adopt policies detailing certain levels of computer science instruction, in addition to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 154, pertaining to the use of school facilities for funeral and memorial services, will be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that they each pass.
The West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools, Steven Paine, came before the committee to answer questions concerning bill 267, and explained that the bill would make certain levels of computer science instruction mandatory in schools. Passage of the bill wouldn’t require every teacher to participate.
The bill is intended to add an emphasis on systematical approaches to computer science within the state’s education system. According to the superintendent, West Virginia is currently one of the only educational systems within the nation which requires a computer science course.
Members also reviewed the committee substitute for Senate Bill 154 which featured minor changes concerning the bill’s title and language found within subsection C. Per counsel’s explanation, the bill is intended for large scale funerals for certain members of a community.
