
Update: The House on Thursday passed the bill 58-22 and sent it to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders for her signature.
Anthony Owen, a leading opponent of Senate Bill 470 and the architect of the state’s computer science program, has said in legislative hearings that Sanders is “neutral” on the bill. The governor’s office does not appear to have commented publicly on her position.
Ten lawmakers didn’t vote on the bill, while another 10 voted present.
A similar version of the legislation was defeated by a House committee last month.
Original story: The House Education Committee advanced legislation Tuesday that opponents say jeopardizes the state’s standing as a national leader in computer science education while placing students at risk of falling behind in skills needed to compete in today’s job market.
A date has not been set for Senate Bill 470 to appear before the House. That bill, called An Act Concerning Career and Technical Education, places more emphasis on career and technical education, or CTE, courses for high school students, removing a requirement that students earn one unit of credit in a computer science course before graduation.
Instead, the bill would require high schoolers to earn one credit in a computer science class or a “computer science-related career and technical education” course before graduating.
It’s a change opponents say walks back the computer science education reform that received bipartisan support under former Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Opponents say those laws put Arkansas at the forefront nationally in K-12 computer science requirements.
In 2021, Hutchinson signed a measure making computer science a graduation requirement. Arkansas is now one of about half a dozen states with such a mandate. Another 19 are considering it.
“You are being asked to pass a bill that says, ‘We don’t have a plan yet,’” Anthony Owen, the architect of Hutchinson’s education initiative, said during Tuesday’s hearing. “There have been statements that not every student needs computer science. Not every student needs half the stuff we legislate in this state. Computer science is more critical in this day and age.”
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce opposes SB470, and a consortium of business leaders, educators and technology firms drafted a letter to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders against it. They said it could take years to develop a new curriculum under the proposal, and definitions of what qualifies as “computer-science related curriculum” could be open to a wide range of interpretation.
Supporters of SB470 argue the bill would allow students to pursue a vocational track of interest that would combine computer skills tailored to specific industries, such as nursing, agriculture, logistics or construction. Under the proposal, computer science would be embedded in the new CTE curriculum created by the Division of Career and Technical Education in coordination with those charged with creating approved computer science curriculum for schools.
“The rigor will be just as robust for any other computer science class,” said Sen. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, a sponsor of the bill, during Tuesday’s House Education Committee meeting. “I have tried to address this concern as much as I can. Unfortunately, there will be people who oppose it no matter what. There is only so much you can do.”
Mike Hernandez, executive director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, which represents superintendents, also spoke in favor of the bill.
“Let school districts make the decision,” Hernandez said. “They can figure out how to manipulate their current CTE pathways or replace one of theirs with computer science.
“It is a great bill, but it also honors computer science,” Hernandez told committee members. “Computer science will be brought to the table to make sure components are embedded with other courses.”
Rep. Vivian Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, raised concerns that the bill would dismantle foundational classes students need as a platform to move forward into more advanced subjects.
“You have to have basic math fundamentals in order for students to even be prepared to take some other courses,” Flowers said Tuesday. “My main concern is if it dismantles basic curricular requirements to make sure all students get basic fundamental course requirement access.”
SB470’s co-sponsors include Sen. Joshua Bryant, R-Rogers; Rep. Rick Beck, R-Center Ridge; and Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock.