ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is asking the State Board of Education to allow high school students to count computer programming courses toward fulfilling a core requirement for their diplomas.

Deal said Monday that he's also asking the University System of Georgia to allow students to use the courses for acceptance into postsecondary institutions.

Deal's office says students are allowed to use advanced placement computer science classes to satisfy their fourth and final high school science credit, but only 18 percent of high schools offer the class.

Officials from Deal's office say less than one percent of high school students took the courses in 2013 and other programming courses only count as electives.

Deal says his request is aimed at helping students succeed in a competitive and increasingly technical workforce.