Release: OhioX Joins Over 500 CEOs and Nonprofit Leaders to Ask State and District Leaders to Prioritize Computer Science in K-12 Schools
COLUMBUS (July 12, 2022) -- OhioX today joined national nonprofit organization Code.org and over 500 of the nation’s top industry, nonprofit, and education leaders to issue a letter calling on state governments and education leaders to “update the K-12 curriculum in each state, for every student in every school to have the opportunity to learn computer science.”
The coalition behind this effort is unprecedented in U.S. education, uniting the leaders and founders of large tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon, together with CEOs of companies across sectors, including American Express, Nike, Starbucks, Delta Airlines, AT&T, UPS, Walgreens, and Hasbro, as well as national education organizations such as Khan Academy, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.
"Building the Silicon Heartland will only be possible because of the talented people who make it happen," said Chris Berry, President/CEO of OhioX. "Building Ohio into a tech hub requires a strong tech-focused workforce - and that starts with giving every student a chance to learn computer science."
Over the last decade, all 50 states have taken action to expand access to computer science, including allowing computer science to count toward core graduation requirements, funding professional learning to train more teachers, and creating clear certification pathways for computer science teachers. The United States has 700,000 currently open computing jobs, but today, only 5% of high school students study computer science per year.
“Every industry is impacted by digital technology, yet not every student has the opportunity to learn how technology works,” said Code.org CEO Hadi Partovi. “Today, computer science should be a core subject, just like basic biology or algebra. The United States has seen tremendous momentum behind this idea, and today’s announcement makes it clear that the time for action is now. We must ensure that standards and the curricula used across the country prioritize computer science so that all students, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, have the opportunity to participate in our digital economy.”
###
About Code.org
Code.org is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by young women and students from other underrepresented groups. Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education. The leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum in the largest school districts in the United States, Code.org also created the annual Hour of Code campaign, which has engaged more than 15% of all students in the world.
About OhioX
OhioX is a statewide nonprofit on a mission to build Ohio into a tech hub. Our member companies and organizations make the work possible and include Fortune 500 companies, leading startups, tech-focused small and medium sized businesses, universities, research institutions, and more. As a nonprofit 501c6 association, we center our efforts around connecting, promoting, and advocating for Ohio’s tech and innovation economy.