CSTA Puget Sound (WA)

A teacher in a very small rural school district asked the following question:  "I am wondering if you know the rules regarding high school computer science and if it can be counted as a math or science credit or is that just for AP Computer Science or neither? If you know how this works or links to documentation I would appreciate it."My preliminary response was as follows:  (further clarifications desired)

This is a little fuzzy.   HB 1472 (2013) https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1472.pdf?q=20240830154104 establishes that "Boards of directors must approve AP computer science courses as equivalent to high school mathematics, including for purposes of meeting the third credit of mathematics required for graduation."  When this bill was passed, only AP CS A existed.   However, what happens to other courses with math and science is less clear and it seems much is up to the district/school.   

Regarding science, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/science specifies "A computer science course may substitute for a third credit of science based on the student's interest and their high school and beyond plan, with the agreement of the student's parent or guardian or agreement of the school counselor or principal. "

Regarding math, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/math  specifies "Non-math courses may count as a third credit of math or substitute for a third credit of math if the course is "… A computer science course, and the school counselor has provided written notification to the student and the student's parents or guardians of the consequences of the substitution on postsecondary opportunities."

GUIDANCE ON TEACHING COMPUTER SCIENCE IN WASHINGTON STATE K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS (ospi.k12.wa.us) (2020) specifies what courses count as "computer science" but does not specify whether they may count as math or science credit.  

CS courses generally do count as CTE credit, but realize your district doesn't have a CTE program.  How does your district handle the CTE graduation requirements?   According to https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/occupational_ed, a CS course can satisfy both CTE and math or science requirements.  "CTE course equivalency or the "two-for-one" policy (RCW 28A.230.097) permits students who take some CTE courses to satisfy two graduation requirements while earning one credit for a single course; hence, "two-for-one". "

"Consequences of the substitution on the postsecondary opportunities" mentioned in using a given computer science course for either a math or science credit probably refers to whether colleges will accept your CS course as an acceptable third math or science credit needed for admission.   Legislatively (and looking at info on advocacy on code.org), "AP Computer Science A can count as a mathematics credit required for admission at institutions of higher education in Washington".    However, this does not say anything about schools outside the state or other CS courses.

Some follow up questions I still have are:

• Anything that should be corrected here?
• Are there other sources of information that I should be referring to?   Especially something that puts this all together?
• Do Washington's higher ed institutions have any restrictions on using a computer science course as a 3rd year math or science course for admission purposes,   While I can see some of the courses listed as computer science (e.g. AP CS Principles, PLTW Computer Science) being accepted as a third year math or science for admission purposes to UW, there are others (eg., web design) that I wonder about.  

A teacher in a very small rural school district asked the following question:  "I am wondering if you know the rules regarding high school computer science and if it can be counted as a math or science credit or is that just for AP Computer Science or neither? If you know how this works or links to documentation I would appreciate it."My preliminary response was as follows:  (further clarifications desired)

This is a little fuzzy.   HB 1472 (2013) https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1472.pdf?q=20240830154104 establishes that "Boards of directors must approve AP computer science courses as equivalent to high school mathematics, including for purposes of meeting the third credit of mathematics required for graduation."  When this bill was passed, only AP CS A existed.   However, what happens to other courses with math and science is less clear and it seems much is up to the district/school.   

Regarding science, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/science specifies "A computer science course may substitute for a third credit of science based on the student's interest and their high school and beyond plan, with the agreement of the student's parent or guardian or agreement of the school counselor or principal. "

Regarding math, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/math  specifies "Non-math courses may count as a third credit of math or substitute for a third credit of math if the course is "… A computer science course, and the school counselor has provided written notification to the student and the student's parents or guardians of the consequences of the substitution on postsecondary opportunities."

GUIDANCE ON TEACHING COMPUTER SCIENCE IN WASHINGTON STATE K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS (ospi.k12.wa.us) (2020) specifies what courses count as "computer science" but does not specify whether they may count as math or science credit.  

CS courses generally do count as CTE credit, but realize your district doesn't have a CTE program.  How does your district handle the CTE graduation requirements?   According to https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/occupational_ed, a CS course can satisfy both CTE and math or science requirements.  "CTE course equivalency or the "two-for-one" policy (RCW 28A.230.097) permits students who take some CTE courses to satisfy two graduation requirements while earning one credit for a single course; hence, "two-for-one". "

"Consequences of the substitution on the postsecondary opportunities" mentioned in using a given computer science course for either a math or science credit probably refers to whether colleges will accept your CS course as an acceptable third math or science credit needed for admission.   Legislatively (and looking at info on advocacy on code.org), "AP Computer Science A can count as a mathematics credit required for admission at institutions of higher education in Washington".    However, this does not say anything about schools outside the state or other CS courses.

Some follow up questions I still have are:

• Anything that should be corrected here?
• Are there other sources of information that I should be referring to?   Especially something that puts this all together?
• Do Washington's higher ed institutions have any restrictions on using a computer science course as a 3rd year math or science course for admission purposes,   While I can see some of the courses listed as computer science (e.g. AP CS Principles, PLTW Computer Science) being accepted as a third year math or science for admission purposes to UW, there are others (eg., web design) that I wonder about.  

A teacher in a very small rural school district asked the following question:  "I am wondering if you know the rules regarding high school computer science and if it can be counted as a math or science credit or is that just for AP Computer Science or neither? If you know how this works or links to documentation I would appreciate it."My preliminary response was as follows:  (further clarifications desired)

This is a little fuzzy.   HB 1472 (2013) https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1472.pdf?q=20240830154104 establishes that "Boards of directors must approve AP computer science courses as equivalent to high school mathematics, including for purposes of meeting the third credit of mathematics required for graduation."  When this bill was passed, only AP CS A existed.   However, what happens to other courses with math and science is less clear and it seems much is up to the district/school.   

Regarding science, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/science specifies "A computer science course may substitute for a third credit of science based on the student's interest and their high school and beyond plan, with the agreement of the student's parent or guardian or agreement of the school counselor or principal. "

Regarding math, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/math  specifies "Non-math courses may count as a third credit of math or substitute for a third credit of math if the course is "… A computer science course, and the school counselor has provided written notification to the student and the student's parents or guardians of the consequences of the substitution on postsecondary opportunities."

GUIDANCE ON TEACHING COMPUTER SCIENCE IN WASHINGTON STATE K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS (ospi.k12.wa.us) (2020) specifies what courses count as "computer science" but does not specify whether they may count as math or science credit.  

CS courses generally do count as CTE credit, but realize your district doesn't have a CTE program.  How does your district handle the CTE graduation requirements?   According to https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/occupational_ed, a CS course can satisfy both CTE and math or science requirements.  "CTE course equivalency or the "two-for-one" policy (RCW 28A.230.097) permits students who take some CTE courses to satisfy two graduation requirements while earning one credit for a single course; hence, "two-for-one". "

"Consequences of the substitution on the postsecondary opportunities" mentioned in using a given computer science course for either a math or science credit probably refers to whether colleges will accept your CS course as an acceptable third math or science credit needed for admission.   Legislatively (and looking at info on advocacy on code.org), "AP Computer Science A can count as a mathematics credit required for admission at institutions of higher education in Washington".    However, this does not say anything about schools outside the state or other CS courses.

Some follow up questions I still have are:

• Anything that should be corrected here?
• Are there other sources of information that I should be referring to?   Especially something that puts this all together?
• Do Washington's higher ed institutions have any restrictions on using a computer science course as a 3rd year math or science course for admission purposes,   While I can see some of the courses listed as computer science (e.g. AP CS Principles, PLTW Computer Science) being accepted as a third year math or science for admission purposes to UW, there are others (eg., web design) that I wonder about.  

Unfortunately, it took me too long to loop back to this issue.

Washington's high schools do have considerable flexibility to use a computer science course as a 3rd year math or 3rd year science course for graduating from high school.   However, Washington's public 4 year university and colleges will not admit students who use computer science as a 3rd year math or science.   Please see attached mails from admissions  offices of UW and WSU which reference Washington Student Achievement Council's College Academic Distribution
Requirements (CADRs) document when evaluating students' applications.

The one exception to this is that AP CS A (only) may be used as a senior-level math course.

A teacher in a very small rural school district asked the following question:  "I am wondering if you know the rules regarding high school computer science and if it can be counted as a math or science credit or is that just for AP Computer Science or neither? If you know how this works or links to documentation I would appreciate it."My preliminary response was as follows:  (further clarifications desired)

This is a little fuzzy.   HB 1472 (2013) https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1472.pdf?q=20240830154104 establishes that "Boards of directors must approve AP computer science courses as equivalent to high school mathematics, including for purposes of meeting the third credit of mathematics required for graduation."  When this bill was passed, only AP CS A existed.   However, what happens to other courses with math and science is less clear and it seems much is up to the district/school.   

Regarding science, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/science specifies "A computer science course may substitute for a third credit of science based on the student's interest and their high school and beyond plan, with the agreement of the student's parent or guardian or agreement of the school counselor or principal. "

Regarding math, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/math  specifies "Non-math courses may count as a third credit of math or substitute for a third credit of math if the course is "… A computer science course, and the school counselor has provided written notification to the student and the student's parents or guardians of the consequences of the substitution on postsecondary opportunities."

GUIDANCE ON TEACHING COMPUTER SCIENCE IN WASHINGTON STATE K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS (ospi.k12.wa.us) (2020) specifies what courses count as "computer science" but does not specify whether they may count as math or science credit.  

CS courses generally do count as CTE credit, but realize your district doesn't have a CTE program.  How does your district handle the CTE graduation requirements?   According to https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/occupational_ed, a CS course can satisfy both CTE and math or science requirements.  "CTE course equivalency or the "two-for-one" policy (RCW 28A.230.097) permits students who take some CTE courses to satisfy two graduation requirements while earning one credit for a single course; hence, "two-for-one". "

"Consequences of the substitution on the postsecondary opportunities" mentioned in using a given computer science course for either a math or science credit probably refers to whether colleges will accept your CS course as an acceptable third math or science credit needed for admission.   Legislatively (and looking at info on advocacy on code.org), "AP Computer Science A can count as a mathematics credit required for admission at institutions of higher education in Washington".    However, this does not say anything about schools outside the state or other CS courses.

Some follow up questions I still have are:

• Anything that should be corrected here?
• Are there other sources of information that I should be referring to?   Especially something that puts this all together?
• Do Washington's higher ed institutions have any restrictions on using a computer science course as a 3rd year math or science course for admission purposes,   While I can see some of the courses listed as computer science (e.g. AP CS Principles, PLTW Computer Science) being accepted as a third year math or science for admission purposes to UW, there are others (eg., web design) that I wonder about.  

A teacher in a very small rural school district asked the following question:  "I am wondering if you know the rules regarding high school computer science and if it can be counted as a math or science credit or is that just for AP Computer Science or neither? If you know how this works or links to documentation I would appreciate it."My preliminary response was as follows:  (further clarifications desired)

This is a little fuzzy.   HB 1472 (2013) https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1472.pdf?q=20240830154104 establishes that "Boards of directors must approve AP computer science courses as equivalent to high school mathematics, including for purposes of meeting the third credit of mathematics required for graduation."  When this bill was passed, only AP CS A existed.   However, what happens to other courses with math and science is less clear and it seems much is up to the district/school.   

Regarding science, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/science specifies "A computer science course may substitute for a third credit of science based on the student's interest and their high school and beyond plan, with the agreement of the student's parent or guardian or agreement of the school counselor or principal. "

Regarding math, https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/math  specifies "Non-math courses may count as a third credit of math or substitute for a third credit of math if the course is "… A computer science course, and the school counselor has provided written notification to the student and the student's parents or guardians of the consequences of the substitution on postsecondary opportunities."

GUIDANCE ON TEACHING COMPUTER SCIENCE IN WASHINGTON STATE K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS (ospi.k12.wa.us) (2020) specifies what courses count as "computer science" but does not specify whether they may count as math or science credit.  

CS courses generally do count as CTE credit, but realize your district doesn't have a CTE program.  How does your district handle the CTE graduation requirements?   According to https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/occupational_ed, a CS course can satisfy both CTE and math or science requirements.  "CTE course equivalency or the "two-for-one" policy (RCW 28A.230.097) permits students who take some CTE courses to satisfy two graduation requirements while earning one credit for a single course; hence, "two-for-one". "

"Consequences of the substitution on the postsecondary opportunities" mentioned in using a given computer science course for either a math or science credit probably refers to whether colleges will accept your CS course as an acceptable third math or science credit needed for admission.   Legislatively (and looking at info on advocacy on code.org), "AP Computer Science A can count as a mathematics credit required for admission at institutions of higher education in Washington".    However, this does not say anything about schools outside the state or other CS courses.

Some follow up questions I still have are:

• Anything that should be corrected here?
• Are there other sources of information that I should be referring to?   Especially something that puts this all together?
• Do Washington's higher ed institutions have any restrictions on using a computer science course as a 3rd year math or science course for admission purposes,   While I can see some of the courses listed as computer science (e.g. AP CS Principles, PLTW Computer Science) being accepted as a third year math or science for admission purposes to UW, there are others (eg., web design) that I wonder about.