The push for computer science education took a step forward this week when Gov. David Ige signed legislation that invests $500,000 in teacher training and gives more students a chance to study the subject.

Along with the funding, House Bill 2607 (Act 51) requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a computer science curriculum, which is already underway. It also mandates that each public high school offer at least one computer science course by 2021.

“Last spring I joined the governors’ initiative to ensure that computer science is in every high school all across the nation,” Ige said. “This measure does really help us accelerate that opportunity.”

The legislation was championed by high school students and a coalition that included DevLeague, Purple Mai‘a, Code.org, HawaiiKidsCAN, Oceanit and other organizations.

“Our kids want to be ready for the future,” said David Miyashiro, executive director of HawaiiKidsCAN. “Now they’ll have a better, and more fair, shot.”

At the bill-signing ceremony, Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said the goal is to create an innovative curriculum that embeds computer science experience at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

“We’re not just focused on adding a class, which would be the easy way to respond to this,” she said.