We are writing to share an important update regarding current legislation in Ohio that directly impacts the future of CS education in our state, and we invite your voice in this process.
Two bills currently under consideration House Bill 594 and Senate Bill 326 include provisions related to CS as a high school graduation requirement.
As a community, we have long advocated for increased access to and recognition of CS in K-12 education.
However, we have concerns about how this requirement is being structured in the current bills.
Why this matters:
While we support the inclusion of CS as part of OH graduation requirement, proposed changes for SB 326 would allow the requirement to be fulfilled with only a half-credit course.
This raises several concerns:
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Reduced rigor: A half-credit model limits the depth at which foundational CS concepts (including algorithms, data, and emerging topics like AI) can be meaningfully taught.
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Inconsistent implementation: Schools may interpret the requirement in ways that prioritize minimal compliance over meaningful learning experiences.
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Undermining the teacher pipeline: Ohio has invested in building a licensed CS teacher workforce. A reduced requirement risks signaling that deep CS expertise is not necessary.
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Equity implications: Students in under-resourced districts may disproportionately receive only surface-level exposure rather than robust CS instruction.
In short, a requirement without sufficient depth risks becoming a checkbox rather than a transformative educational experience.
At this time, House Bill 594 does not include a reduction in a half-credit requirement. We support maintaining this level of rigor. We are concerned however, that adopted changes in Senate Bill 326 could introduce a half-credit model in the House Bill, which may emerge as a compromise during the legislative process.
We strongly urge policy makers to avoid reducing the requirement to a half credit if the bills are reconciled. Doing so would significantly weaken the intent and impact of CS as part of OH grad requirements.
What we support:
CSTA Ohio remains strongly in favor of expanding access to high-quality CS education for all students. Specifically, we support:
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A full-credit CS grad requirement that allows students to engage deeply with foundational concepts
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Expanding access to CS learning experiences in ways that prioritize depth, coherence, and long-term student outcomes.
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Ensuring CS is taught with enough time and structure for students to develop lasting understanding
How you can take action:
Use this tool to identify your representatives
If you would like to lend your support, here are several ways to get involved:
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Contact Your Legislator
- Share your perspective as an educator, advocate, parent, and/or community member
- You can use sample language for HB 594 and SB 326 to write a letter sent by mail (the most effective way to send a message), call and leave a message, or request a brief meeting with your legislator to discuss the issues.
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Review and Track the Bills
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Submit Written or In-Person Testimony
- You can submit testimony to the OH Senate Education Committee here, choosing whether to submit written or both written and in-person testimony. We have prepared a sample letter for SB 326 that you can adapt. Note: Since the amendment for the half-credit has been adopted, CSTA Ohio is testifying in opposition to the bill.
- Personal stories and classroom experiences are especially powerful
- Submission of testimony to the OH House Education Committee will be available here when the Committee announces the next hearing some time in May or June.
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Use Sample Advocacy Letters
- To support your outreach, we have prepared sample letters for both HB 594 and SB 326 that you can adapt and send to your legislators. If you would feel more comfortable sending a broader message, we have also included a general sample letter you can use or adapt.
Your voice as a CSTA Ohio member carries weight. We encourage you to engage in whatever way feels right for you.