The global economy of the future requires students to be literate in technology.

A bill requested by State Superintendent Randy Dorn would make that a reality for students in Washington state. Senate Bill 5229 requires students to show their proficiency by passing a technology literacy and fluency test, to be developed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, or completing a culminating project “or other substantively equivalent methods.”

The bill was heard today at a public hearing by the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

“In 2011, technology literacy and fluency were added to our state’s four goals of basic education,” Dorn said. “The change was made because legislators realized that it’s crucial that all students know technology, that they are comfortable with technology. More and more of our world requires some technological skills. This bill will give all students the opportunity to become technologically literate.”

Accompanying the bill is Dorn’s budget request for $139 million in 2015-17. The money will increase student allocations for technology and fund staff support to update technology learning standards so that they align with existing state standards.