Core 21

Date: January 3, 2007
From: Chris Stephenson
To: CS Teachers in NC
Re: Core 21

CSTA has been watching state efforts to set new course requirements for students across the country and we are wondering if you have had any involvement in the new North Carolina course of study framework for high school course requirements and what you think this new framework might mean for K-12 computer science education.

According to a release by the State Board of Education Department of Public Instruction ( http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/newsroom/news/2006-07/20061208-01 ) the proposed core framework requires that all freshmen entering high school in the fall 2008 participate in a 21 unit core course of study that will include a four-unit endorsement in a specialty area of their choice. The new core course of study will require:
4 units of English
4 units of mathematics
3 units of science
3 units of social studies
2 units of a second language
1 unit of health/physical education
an endorsement of at least four units in one of the following areas: Career-Technical Education, Arts Education, JROTC, Advanced Placement/IB, Second Language or other.
While some states (Texas) allow students to count computer science as a mathematics or science core credit, it is not exactly clear where computer science will fit under this new North Carolina framework. Some have suggested that it will fit under Career-Technical Education, but that is not entirely clear.

We would be grateful if you could share any information you might have on this new policy.

Thanks
Chris