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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Gianforte, Arntzen Propose Computer Science Education Changes

Greg Gianforte and Elsie Arntzen proposed policy changes in Kalispell to grow computer science education in the state, May 17, 2016.
Eric Whitney
Greg Gianforte and Elsie Arntzen proposed policy changes in Kalispell to grow computer science education in the state, May 17, 2016.

Today, Montana's Republican candidates for governor and superintendent of public schools called for policy changes to grow computer science education in the state.

At a press conference at Kalispell's Depot Park, Greg Gianforte and Elsie Arntzen proposed three changes. One: that computer science classes should count toward graduation as a core science requirement. Two: to allow computer coding to count toward foreign language requirements. And the third:

"We need to do more to help our teachers get certification to teach computer science. Our universities don't have those options. I think we should add them." said Gianforte.

Gianforte said improving teacher training in computer science can be done affordably. The Bozeman software entrepreneur said Montana has a "moral obligation" to improve computer science education here, and that local school boards should be allowed to opt out of the policies if they don't like them.

Eric Whitney is NPR's Mountain West/Great Plains Bureau Chief, and was the former news director for Montana Public Radio.
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