Mississippi HB 633 (Mississippi Computer Science and Cyber Education Equality Act), Section 4.

Summary

Authorizes the State Department of Education to implement a K-12 computer science curriculum based on 2018 standards, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Instructs the State Department of Education to collaborate with the Center for Cyber Education at Mississippi State University for curriculum development.

Requires school districts, starting in the 2022-2023 school year, to ensure all middle schools offer computer science instruction and 50% of elementary schools provide a minimum of one hour weekly.

Mandates charter schools serving middle and high school students to offer computer science courses.

Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, directs 50% of high schools to provide computer science courses and all elementary schools to offer at least one hour of exploratory computer science weekly.

Ensures, beginning the 2024-2025 school year, computer science instruction is available in all schools within each district.

Requires the State Department of Education to include AI in the K-12 computer science curriculum.

SECTION 4. (1) The State Department of Education is authorized and directed to implement K-12 computer science curriculum based on the 2018 Mississippi College and Career-Readiness Standards for computer science, which includes instruction in, but not limited to:

(a) Computational thinking;

(b) Problem solving;

(c) Programming;

(d) Cyber security;

(e) Data science;

(f) Robotics;

(g) Artificial intelligence and machine learning; and

(h) Other computer science and cyber-related content.

(2) The State Department of Education shall work with the Center for Cyber Education at Mississippi State University to identify and develop K-12 computer science curriculum and delivery options.

(3) Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year:

(a) Each local school district shall provide that all middle schools in its school system offer instruction in foundations of computer science;

(b) Each local school district shall provide that fifty percent (50%) of elementary schools in its school system offer a minimum of one (1) hour of instruction in computer science each week;

(c) Each charter school that serves middle or high school students shall offer a course in computer science; and

(d) Each charter school that serves elementary school students shall offer instruction in computer science.

(4) Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year:

(a) Each local school district shall provide that at least fifty percent (50%) of the high schools in its school system offer a course in computer science;

(b) Each local school district shall provide that all elementary schools in its school system offer a minimum of one (1) hour of instruction in exploratory computer science each week.

(5) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each local school district shall provide that all schools in its school system offer instruction in computer science.