State Rep. Greg VanWoerkom has introduced a plan to update Michigan’s curriculum standards to better prepare students for their future careers.

“Michigan’s job market is changing,” said VanWoerkom, of Norton Shores. “Our education system must keep up if we want our children to thrive after graduation.”

VanWoerkom’s plan would allow students to complete a computer coding class as a foreign language equivalent.

“Studies show that coding improves academic performance because it challenges students to use their imagination to create real solutions,” VanWoerkom said. “It’s becoming increasingly more important for kids to understand technology in the digital age,”

The bill is under consideration by the House Education Committee.