CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada State Board of Education on Thursday approved a regulation to require computer science be included in the Computer Education and Technology course required for graduation from high school.

“This computer science modernization of Nevada’s half-credit Computer and Technology graduation requirement propels Nevada to the forefront of the nation in providing equitable access for all students to these critical 21st-century skills" said Mark Newburn, Vice President of the Nevada State Board of Education.

Changes to the half-credit graduation requirement include a name change from Use of Computers to Computer Education and Technology and that this subject area must include at least 50 percent instruction in computer science. Regulatory changes to Nevada’s computer science endorsement for licensed teachers were also approved by the board on Thursday.

“These changes to the computer science endorsements for secondary educators include a tiered-approach,” said Cindi Chang, Education Programs Professional over Computer Science at the Nevada Department of Education. “They take the current endorsements down to two, and stack the methods to teach computer science and computer science concepts coursework in both endorsements. This lays the proper computer science foundation for all educators seeking these endorsements and makes leveling up more attainable.”

The Praxis exam for computer science was also added as a measure of competency in lieu of coursework for the advanced computer science endorsement.

For more information visit: http://bit.ly/CSforNV-NDE or www.stemhub.nv.gov/csfornv