Computer science courses have become a necessary part of K-12 education to prepare students for success in college, career, and life. High-quality computer science courses help to prepare students to not only use existing technology but create new technologies that are necessary for the changing workforce.

In 2019, Alabama passed the Computer Science for Alabama Act, requiring every K-12 school in Alabama to offer a high-quality computer science course by 2022. The passage of this legislation made our state a national leader in computer science education policy. As part of implementing this legislation, the Legislature now appropriates $6 million annually (as of FY 2026) from the Education Trust Fund budget to train teachers to teach computer science classes. To continue this momentum, in 2024, the Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE) voted to add computer science as a graduation requirement. Freshmen entering high school in 2028-29 must complete either a unit of computer science or a course with embedded computer science skills. Computer science credit earned counts as a college and career readiness indicator, as well. The SBOE also appointed a committee to review and revise the Digital Literacy and Computer Science Course of Study, which was adopted in 2025. 

In the 2023-2024 school year, 86% of Alabama elementary schools implemented computer science instruction, impacting 316,559 students in kindergarten through 6th grade. Alabama also enrolled 39,300  students in secondary computer science courses. Of those students, 14,363 were in high school and 24,937 were in middle school. Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles was the second most popular AP course offered in Alabama schools in the spring of 2024. Over 3,200 Alabama students took the) AP Computer Science Principles exam in 2024. Nationally, the number of students taking the AP Computer Science Principles exam grew from 50,000 to 76,000 in just one year, showing the growing relevance of this coursework. As the rest of the world is gearing up to prepare students for the new jobs of today, Alabama must continue to ensure students have increased access to computer science courses.