acm-header
Sign In

Communications of the ACM

ACM TechNews

States Are Calling for More Computer Science Classes. Now They Need Teachers


View as: Print Mobile App Share:
A computer science teacher in action.

As of 2019-20, computer science was the least popular certification subject for new teachers, according to the latest data from federal teacher improvement grants.

Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus

Code.org reported that every state had a law or policy in place promoting K-12 computer science education by 2022.

During that year, it said 53% of high schools offered basic computer science courses.

However, concerns are on the rise about who will teach these courses, given school staffing issues nationwide and differing state certification requirements for computer science education.

In 2020, 42 states allowed teachers to add computer science to an existing license, 19 required completion of an independent certification program, and 24 had alternative certification pathways.

A study led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Paul Bruno found most computer science teachers in North Carolina, for instance, are business or math teachers, with only 1% having specific computer science certification. Said Bruno, "We need to think more strategically about the teacher supply."

From Education Week
View Full Article - May Require Paid Subscription

 

Abstracts Copyright © 2023 SmithBucklin, Washington, D.C., USA


 

No entries found

Sign In for Full Access
» Forgot Password? » Create an ACM Web Account