CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If high schoolers want to walk the stage, the graduation checklist just got longer.
North Carolina is adding one more requirement for high schoolers to graduate. The new standards, signed into law Monday, require students to take a computer science course before graduating.
The new law is timely as jobs in the field are expected to grow. Every year, state researchers look at what jobs are growing the fastest.
Computer and math-related jobs top the list with North Carolina's Department of Commerce putting the median salary for these jobs at more than $98,000 a year.
Computer science is a broad category but it covers jobs like software developers and support specialists.
The bill says the new required lessons should include instruction on software designs and technology's impact on society. Signing the bill into law Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper said the coding and technology skills are needed.
He went on to suggest requirements to colleges and universities with online child safety as a top concern.
It's not clear how this new requirement will impact teachers and schools, many of which still have understaffed classrooms.
Contact Kia Murray at kmurray@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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