Since the fall of 2014, students have been able to take computer science classes, where they learn programming languages like Java or Python, in place of foreign language classes like French or Spanish.
The University System of Georgia (USG), which includes all of the state’s public colleges and universities, changed its college entrance requirements to support the change.
Statewide, since the USG shifted its policy and the state board of education put more emphasis on hiring computer science teachers, the number of students taking computer science classes has grown by more than 50 percent.
Michael Reilly, technology teacher at the Center for Digital Technology (CDAT) at Lanier High School, speaks with Tasnim Shamma of WABE 90.1, Atlanta’s NPR station.