New Laws Approved: Computer Science Requirement and Tougher Penalties for Teacher Misconduct
In an effort to enhance education and protect students, new laws have been approved in North Carolina. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Monday that he has signed seven bills into law, including ones that address school employee misconduct and high school graduation requirements. These bills received overwhelming support from the General Assembly with bipartisan backing.
One of the newly enacted laws adds a computer science requirement for high school graduation, making North Carolina the eighth state to implement such a mandate. Starting with students entering ninth grade next school year, a computer science course will be necessary for graduation. However, the legislation does not increase the number of credits required for graduation. Instead, it calls for the State Board of Education to reduce the number of elective courses needed.
State Superintendent Catherine Truitt expressed her support for this new requirement, emphasizing the importance of computer science in today’s society. Truitt stated, “Computer science has permeated every facet of society. By adding computer science to our graduation requirements, we are ensuring that students gain first-hand experience in this ever-growing discipline so that they can be better prepared to pursue the postsecondary plan of their choice.”
To address concerns about potential teacher shortages in computer science, school districts will not be required to offer computer science classes until the 2026-27 school year. Efforts are underway to train more teachers in this field.
Another significant law focuses on addressing teacher misconduct. The “Protect Our Students Act” raises the severity of penalties for school employees convicted of sexual activity with a student or taking indecent liberties with a student. It elevates such offenses to Class G and Class I felonies, respectively. Additionally, school leaders who fail to promptly report teacher misconduct to the State Board of Education will also face Class I felony charges.
The law also mandates the production and distribution of an age-appropriate video by the N.C. Center for Safer Schools. This video aims to educate students in grades 6-12 about acceptable and unacceptable student-teacher interactions.
Superintendent Truitt had requested this legislation, citing the need to protect students from any form of sexual misconduct. Truitt stated, “We know the overwhelming majority of educators will never come anywhere close to violating the rights of students. However, I firmly believe that one instance of sexual misconduct is too many. This legislation protects and informs students, while outlining and increasing the penalties for offenders.”
In addition to these laws, Gov. Cooper announced that he is allowing three bills to become law without his signature. One of these bills grants more control over high school sports to Republican State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, taking authority away from the N.C. High School Athletic Association. The new law requires the association to enter into an agreement with the state superintendent, including reporting requirements and audits. If an agreement cannot be reached, the superintendent will assume control of high school athletics.
While Gov. Cooper praised the computer science requirement and online age verification provisions, he expressed concerns about new higher education accreditation requirements. He urged state lawmakers to reconsider these changes, stating that they would impose unnecessary burdens and increase costs for public higher education institutions.
These new laws aim to improve education and protect students in North Carolina. By incorporating computer science into graduation requirements and addressing teacher misconduct, the state is taking significant steps towards a brighter future for its students.