By: Courtney Nicole Fears
Computer science and technology are now considered requirements of a public school education. According to the Obama Administration, technology education should be a part of a core curriculum for children from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. In January, the Obama Administration announced the allotment of $4 Billion in funding for states to ensure that each school-aged child in the United States receives a computer science education. The Computer Science for All Initiative is part of a greater bi-partisan bill signed by Congress and the President in 2015 that would repeal the heavily criticized No Child Left Behind Act.
This initiative follows in the footsteps of the much talked about STEM program taking over public schools around the country. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The aim of the STEM program is to foster education and understanding of these subjects for young students, specifically girls and minorities in underserved or underperforming districts, in order to increase diversity in the work force of these areas. Similarly, one goal of the Computer Science for all Initiative is to expand computer science education to promote diversity in the tech space. The President’s technology initiative has prompted large tech companies like Microsoft to enhance funding in their technology programs aimed at attracting a younger generation.
In his recent address, the President focused on the rapid technological advances affecting every aspect of American society. The President noted the need for students to leave high school with an understanding of computer science and changing technology as preparation to enter the job market. The initiative seeks to ensure technology education is afforded to every public school student in the country. The funding seeks to provide proper training for teachers and ensure classrooms are equipped with the necessary technology to supply computer science programming.
The Computer Science for All Initiative seeks to prepare American children for a changing work force. By ensuring that all public school students will graduate with a basic understanding computer science, the Computer Science for All Initiative provides children with an opportunity for a bright and hopeful future.
Blogger Bio: Courtney is a staff member of the Journal of High Technology Law. She is currently a 3L student at Suffolk Law with a concentration in Intellectual Property. She holds a B. A. in Political Science from Louisiana State University. Courtney is a native of Dallas, Texas and enjoys warm weather and college football.
