SB 104-Relating to Computer Coding Instruction
On Monday, February 6th, SB 104, relating to Computer Coding Instruction, by The Honorable Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), was heard by the Senate Committee on Education and passed unanimously by a vote of 8 yeas to 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this bill.

Starting with the 2019-2020 school year, SB 104 would allow high school students the option of taking computer coding courses along with a related industry certification to satisfy the foreign language requirement currently in place. Under this bill high schools will provide students the opportunity to substitute two credits in computer coding and a related industry certification for two credits sequential foreign language courses (i.e. Spanish I and Spanish II; Latin I and Latin II; French I and French II; etc.). Furthermore, SB 104, would require the Florida College System institutions and state universities to acknowledge computer coding course credits as foreign language credits.

SB 104 will now go to its second and final committee stop in the Senate Committee on Rules.

AIF SUPPORTS legislation that will provide Florida’s students the opportunity to become proficient in computer coding, which will in turn prepare our states next generation for a technology driven economy.