Greetings Superintendents, School Administrators, and Counselors:
With the passage of HB 633 (https://legiscan.com/MS/text/HB633/2021) requiring all schools within each district to offer computer science instruction by the 2024-2025 school year (see excerpt below) many of you may have questions about implementation within your district or school. We are offering an opportunity to join a 1 hour webinar to learn more about what is available to you in terms of courses, teacher training, equipment needs, etc. Please register for one of the following sessions to participate in an informative presentation regarding the CS4MS initiative and to ask questions relevant to your school and/or district:
Registration Links (only register for one)
Tuesday, May 18th at 9:00am: – https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6RgbEvUERNqKyFKAXJaZoQ
Wednesday, May 19th at 1:30pm: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rzutnJjaQHeOiEdEI5knUw
Each session will cover the same material so you only need to register for the one most convenient for your schedule. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We look forward to seeing you at one of these sessions.
<Excerpt from HB 633>
SECTION 4.
(1) The State Department of Education is authorized and directed to implement K-12 computer science curriculum based on the 2018 Mississippi College and Career-Readiness Standards for computer science, which includes instruction in, but not limited to:
(a) Computational thinking; (b) Problem-solving; (c) Programming; (d) Cyber security; (e) Data science; (f) Robotics; (g) Artificial intelligence and machine learning; and (h) Other computer science and cyber-related content.
(2) The State Department of Education shall work with the Center for Cyber Education at Mississippi State University to identify and develop K-12 computer science curriculum and delivery options.
(3) Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year:
(a) Each local school district shall provide that all middle schools in its school system offer instruction in foundation computer science;
(b) Each local school district shall provide that fifty percent (50%) of elementary schools in its school system offer a minimum of one (1) hour of instruction in computer science each week;
(c) Each charter school that serves middle or high school students shall offer a course in computer science; and
(d) Each charter school that serves elementary school students shall offer instruction in computer science.
(4) Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year:
(a) Each local school district shall provide that at least fifty percent (50%) of the high schools in its school system offer a course in computer science;
(b) Each local school district shall provide that all elementary schools in its school system offer a minimum of one (1) hour of instruction in exploratory computer science each week.
(5) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each local school district shall provide that all schools in its school system offer instruction in computer science.
Thanks,
Nathan
—
Nathan Oakley, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer
Office of Academic Education
601-359-3077 | mdek12.org