California is among the 17 states that have guidance clarifying that computer science (CS) education is fundamental to artificial intelligence (AI).
This is according to the 2025 State of AI + Computer Science Education report, published by Code.org, which includes a state-by-state look at AI education policies and an overview of CS policies, access and participation.
“The California Department of Education emphasizes that computer science should be a core component of K-12 AI education and encourages educational leaders to ensure all students have access to computer science,” the report reads.
Recent legislation has led to the establishment of an AI Working Group to draft guidance and model policy around AI practices in schools and required the Instructional Quality Commission to consider content about AI literacy in curriculum frameworks and instructional materials when revision cycles for math, science and history and social science occur.
The report notes that CS continues to evolve, and that as AI becomes more prominent, students must be prepared and knowledgeable about the technology. “CS remains the foundation, AI is the frontier, and both must be a fundamental part of every student’s education,” the report asserts.
While no states currently have a graduation requirement that includes both AI and CS, four of 50 states do emphasize AI in their CS standards and five states provide professional development (PD) funding for AI and CS. California isn’t among the states emphasizing AI in CS standards or allocating PD funding.
“California can expand its commitment to AI + CS education by emphasizing AI in computer science standards, adopting an AI and computer science graduation requirement, and providing dedicated professional development funding,” the report advises.
Generally, interest in AI can be used to bolster participation in CS coursework. “AI’s foundation in CS presents an opportunity to leverage AI to broaden participation in CS and usher in broad AI literacy,” the report states.
Nationally, 60 percent of students in 2024–25 had access to CS and participation in 42 states was 6.1 percent.
“Access to CS has plateaued, except in states with CS graduation requirements,” according to the report. “Rural and urban schools, and schools with a high percentage of students receiving free meals are less likely to offer CS courses. Small schools (fewer than 500 students) face the greatest difficulty offering and sustaining CS courses.”
Computer science in California
In 2024–25, 58 percent of public high schools in California offered foundational CS, up from 52 percent the year prior and 45 percent in 2022–23. However, small high schools were 2.5 times less likely to offer CS compared to larger schools. While 63 percent of urban and suburban schools offered CS, only 44 percent of rural schools did.
Just over 5 percent of high schoolers took CS in 2023–24 and about two-thirds of students who took Advanced Placement CS exams were male.
The state met seven of the 10 policies outlined to make CS foundational, including:
- Having a state plan for K-12 CS
- Allocating dedicated state-level funding for CS PD
- Allowing CS to satisfy a core admissions requirement for institutions of higher education
- Having CS standards
- The availability of a CS teacher certification
- Having a dedicated CS education position
- Allowing CS to satisfy a core graduation requirement
It did not meet policies regarding having incentives for higher education institutions to offer CS to preservice teachers, requiring all high schools to offer CS or requiring students to take CS to graduate.
CSBA’s own AI Taskforce and staff have developed a suite of resources including an AI roadmap facilitation guide; sample policies; and new briefs on the board’s role in AI decision-making, AI tools used by educators, utilizing AI to reduce administrative burdens and more, available here.
