As anyone who spends their time talking to leaders in the technology space will tell you, finding enough qualified tech talent can be a major pain point. According to estimates, American universities only produced about 40,000 computer science graduates last year to fill an approximate 600,000 computing job openings. If current trends continue, this will create a gap of 1 million openings over the next eight years.
The Chicago Board of Education decided to do something about that.
Yesterday, they unanimously decided to add computer science to the list of classes required for graduation for Chicago Public School (CPS) students, starting with the class of 2020 — the freshman class that will be enrolling in the fall. The class will count as one of two required credits for career education.
"Making sure that our students are exposed to STEM and computer science opportunities early on is critical in building a pipeline to both college to career," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement. "Requiring computer science as a core requirement will ensure that our graduates are proficient in the language of the 21st century so that they can compete for the jobs of the future."
This most recent initiative builds on the Computer Science For All (CS4All) initiative introduced by the Emmanuel administration to K-12 schools in December 2013. This program has served as a model for several other urban school districts, as well as a national initiative announced by the White House back in January. President Obama’s CS For All initiative called for billions in funding for computer science programs throughout the country.
"No matter what field our students pursue, having exposure to STEM will provide critical skills and training for success in their careers and in life," said CPS CEO Forrest Claypool in a statement. "As a national leader in technology in the classroom, CPS will continue to push the envelope to challenge our students and ensure they're prepared for the future."
To date, computer science curriculum is available at 107 public schools in Chicago, 41 of which are considered prepared to implement the graduation requirement by the district. The district aims to add 50-60 schools to this list yearly.
"By ensuring that all CPS students graduate with computer science skills, we will give them a leg up and an opportunity to succeed in what is sure to be one of the most in-demand sectors of tomorrow's economy," said CPS Chief Education Officer Dr. Janice Jackson in a statement.
Part of the challenge in implementing the program will be providing a sufficient number of computer science teachers. Currently, about 250 CPS teachers and administrators are certified to teach computer science. CPS plans to support schools and teachers through professional development programs, coaching, program administration and technical assistance.
The computer science curriculum and many of the aforementioned supporting programs will be developed and implemented in partnership with organizations including Code.org, Google, Microsoft and DePaul, UIC and Loyola.
Images via Code Fellows and The White House.
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