Strengthening  Computer  Science  Education  in  113th  Congress

Computer  science  is  now  the  primary  driver  for  job  growth  throughout  all  STEM  fields.  More  than  50%   of   projected   jobs   in   STEM   fields   are   in   computing   occupations,   these   occupations   dominate   “help   wanted”  ads  and  computer  science  is  one  of  the  hottest  degrees  for  new  graduates.  Despite  this,  our   K-­‐12   system   continues   to   marginalize   computer   science   education   and   often   federal,   state   and   local   polices  are  key  barriers.  We  must  remove  these  barriers  so  our  education  system  can  put  students  on  a   path  to  fill  high-­‐demand,  high-­‐skilled,  high-­‐pay  computing  jobs  across  all  sectors  of  our  economy.     While   education   decisions   are   vested   in   state   and   local   authority,   Congress   should   ensure   there   are   minimal  barriers  in  federal  policies  for  K-­‐12  computer  science  education.  These  barriers  exist  in  K-­‐12   legislation   the   Elementary   and   Secondary   Education   Act   (ESEA),   the   Higher   Education   Act,   and   the   authorization   of   the   National   Science   Foundation   (NSF).   Current   programs   are   focused   toward   the   “core”   of   what   is   taught   in   schools   throughout   the   country   and   are   often   defined   in   a   way   that   can   exclude  K-­‐12  computer  science  or  bias  programs  and  those  in  states  and  districts  who  make  decisions   about  public  education  dollars  away  from  this  subject.  Computer  science  is  typically  not  considered  to   be  part  of  that  core.       Legislation   to   address   these   and   other   issues   has   been   introduced   in   the   House   and   Senate.     Representatives   Susan   Brooks   (R-­‐IN)   and   Jared   Polis   (D-­‐CO)   have   introduced   the   Computer   Science   Education   Act   (HR   2536)   and   Senators   Robert   Casey   (D-­‐PA)   and   Marco   Rubio   (R-­‐FL)   have   introduced   the  Computer  Science  Education  and  Jobs  Act  (S  1407)  in  the  Senate.  While  the  details  of  the  bills  differ,   they   would   both   create   breathing   room   through   incremental   policy   changes   that   clarify   computer   science   can   and   should   be   addressed   by   existing   federal   programs.   The   legislation   proposed   for   the   113th  Congress  would:     • Be  cost  neutral  –  there  are  no  new  programs   • Revise   certain   definitions   and   add   computer   science   and   programs   that   support   it   as   an   allowable  use  of  funds  in  certain  laws   • Not  require  any  state  or  other  entity  to  teach  computer  science         Simply   put,   this   legislation   would   clarify   that   existing   and   currently   funded   federal   programs   could   invest  in  computer  science  and  support  local  and  state  educators  who  want  to  put  computer  science   curriculum   and   teachers   in   schools.   Both   proposals   would   amend   the   definition   of   “core   academic   subjects”   in   ESEA   to   add   computer   science   and   build   on   that   proposed   change   to   create   more   support   for  computer  science  education  in  federal  education  policies.         See  code.org  or  computinginthecore.org  for  partners  and  more  information  on  computer  science   education   Contact:  [email protected]  or  [email protected]