Post by Logan on Feb 25, 2016 8:48:20 GMT -6
TALLAHASSEE — Florida senators overwhelmingly approved a proposal Wednesday to allow high school students to count computer coding as a foreign language course, although questions linger about whether the two subjects should be considered one and the same.
The Senate passed Sen. Jeremy Ring's bill (SB 468) by a 35-5 vote.
"With this bill, we're putting a stamp on it: Florida is a technology leader in this country," said Ring, a Democrat from Margate and a former Yahoo executive. "We are truly, in this state, pioneering something that I believe will be a very significant trend."
Ring said, if it becomes law, the computer-coding measure — which would take effect in the 2018-19 school year — would be the first of its kind in the country. He said "dozens of other states are looking at this."
But critics of the proposal worry that it could dilute students' cultural education and place a burden on public schools that already lack adequate technology resources. The bill includes no funding to improve students' access to computers at school, and Ring has maintained his proposal has no financial impact on districts.
Read more: www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/florida-senate-endorses-making-computer-coding-a-foreign-language/2266738
The Senate passed Sen. Jeremy Ring's bill (SB 468) by a 35-5 vote.
"With this bill, we're putting a stamp on it: Florida is a technology leader in this country," said Ring, a Democrat from Margate and a former Yahoo executive. "We are truly, in this state, pioneering something that I believe will be a very significant trend."
Ring said, if it becomes law, the computer-coding measure — which would take effect in the 2018-19 school year — would be the first of its kind in the country. He said "dozens of other states are looking at this."
But critics of the proposal worry that it could dilute students' cultural education and place a burden on public schools that already lack adequate technology resources. The bill includes no funding to improve students' access to computers at school, and Ring has maintained his proposal has no financial impact on districts.
Read more: www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/florida-senate-endorses-making-computer-coding-a-foreign-language/2266738