Communications of the ACM
Computer Science Education: The 'why' and 'how'
Credit: The Little Hawk
Some U.S. states are starting to boost computer science education as a way to prepare students for high-paying jobs that will help boost the economy. In May, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill to count Advance Placement (AP) computer science as a math or science credit. The state previously offered computer science as an elective, and many students passed over the course for others that met graduation requirements. However, only 35 of the state's 622 high schools offer AP computer science. Nationwide, just 10 percent of schools offer programming classes, and only 10 states count computer science toward math or science requirements for high school graduation.
Experts say the sooner students develop a love for computer science, the better, and in- and after-school activities will be key to helping cultivate and sustain their interest in the subject.
Data from the New Jersey Institute of Technology suggests that 150,000 new computing jobs will need to be filled each year for the next 10 years. Computer science is the highest-paid college degree and jobs are growing at twice the national average, but fewer than 2.4 percent of graduates earn degrees in the subject, according to Code.org.
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