Florida Senate endorses making computer coding a foreign language

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State senators in Florida overwhelmingly approved a proposal Wednesday to allow high school students to count computer coding as a foreign language course, although questions linger about whether the two subjects should be considered one and the same.

The state Senate passed the bill by Democratic Sen. Jeremy Ring on a 35-5 vote.

“With this bill, we’re putting a stamp on it: Florida is a technology leader in this country,” said Ring, a former Yahoo executive. “We are truly, in this state, pioneering something that I believe will be a very significant trend.”

Ring said, if it becomes law, the computer-coding measure – which would take effect in the 2018-19 school year – would be the first of its kind in the country. He said “dozens of other states are looking at this.”

But critics of the proposal worry it could dilute students’ cultural education and place a burden on public schools that already lack adequate technology resources. The bill includes no funding to improve students’ access to computers at school, and Ring has maintained his proposal has no financial impact on districts.

“What I’m fearful of is now we’re at a place where certain students in certain ZIP codes may not have access to those kinds of classes because they may have antiquated equipment,” said Republican Sen. Dwight Bullard, a high school teacher in Miami-Dade.

Sen. Jeff Clemens, a Republican, said he appreciated the intent of Ring’s proposal but disagrees that computer coding is – as Ring argues – a language, rather than a computer science.

“This debate is not about coding,” Clemens said. “It’s about whether or not we value culture and whether or not we value foreign language as a means to teach that.”

Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho opposed making computer coding a substitute or alternative to foreign languages, especially because of the global economy and Florida’s increasingly bilingual communities.

Ring said computer coding is more aligned with the liberal arts than computer science. He argues computer coding is a universal language that helps prepare students for careers in high-demand science, technology, engineering and math fields.

“Computer coding (and) technology is a basic skill in everything we’re going to do,” Ring said. “You can’t do a job in this world … unless you have an understanding of technology or you absolutely will be left behind.”

Florida’s public colleges and universities would be required to accept computer coding credits toward foreign language requirements for admission. Parents and students would have to sign a waiver acknowledging that out-of-state or private colleges and universities might not honor the credits as a foreign language.