Coalition Calls for Updated K-12 Curriculum to Prioritize Computer Science Education

Strategic Insights -

A coalition of leading industry and education figures, including tech companies like Microsoft and Alphabet, has urged state governments and education leaders to update the K-12 curriculum to include computer science education. The call comes as the U.S. faces a significant shortage of skilled workers in the tech industry, with 700,000 open computing jobs going unfilled. Despite this, only 5% of high school students study computer science annually. The coalition, led by Code.org, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools, argues that computer science should be a core subject, like basic biology or algebra. The goal is to give every student the opportunity to learn computer science and participate in the digital economy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 500 industry and education leaders, including CEOs of major companies like Microsoft and Starbucks, have signed a letter calling for updated K-12 curriculum to prioritize computer science education.
  • The coalition argues that every student should have access to learn computer science and how technology works, with 700,000 open computing jobs in the U.S.
  • Despite progress in expanding access to computer science in schools, only 5% of high school students study computer science per year.
  • Signatories of the letter include national education organizations like Khan Academy and the American Federation of Teachers.
  • The coalition aims to ensure that standards and curricula prioritize computer science so that all students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, have the opportunity to participate in the digital economy.
  • Code.org, a leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum, aims to give every student in every school the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education.

Statistics:

  • 700,000 open computing jobs in the U.S. (Source: industry reports)
  • Only 5% of high school students study computer science per year (Source: Code.org)
  • 15% of all students worldwide have engaged in the annual Hour of Code campaign (Source: Code.org)
  • Over 500 industry and education leaders have signed the letter calling for updated K-12 curriculum (Source: PR Newswire)
  • Code.org has created the leading K-12 computer science curriculum in the largest school districts in the U.S. (Source: Code.org website)

Sources:

  • PR Newswire, "Coalition of Over 500 Industry and Education Leaders Joins Code.org to Urge Governors, State Education Leaders to Update K-12 Curriculum to Give Every Student Access to Computer Science" (July 12, 2022)
  • Code.org website, "Our Mission and Goals"
  • Code.org website, "About the Hour of Code"
  • Code.org website, "About Code.org"