Agreement Signed by All 50 US Governors Shows Renewed Commitment to Computer Science

Last year, Code.org announced that 51% of all high schools in the United States now offer computer science classes, up from 35% just a few years ago. Here at Endless, we believe that learning coding and computer sciences are key for building 21st Century Skills, which is why we’re launching a game studio focused on fostering those skills (and more!) through the process of youth building video games.

But there are still gaps in computer science access across the US: Urban and rural schools and those that serve high populations of economically disadvantaged students are less likely to have CS class offerings, and in schools that do offer courses, the opportunity is not distributed evenly. According to the 2021 State of Computer Science Education (a report from the Code.org Advocacy Coalition, Computer Science Teachers Association, and the Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance) there is still an enrollment gap between male and female and/or non-binary students, and for economically disadvantaged students and those with disabilities.

Code.org, CSTA, & ECEP Alliance. (2021). 2021 State of computer science education: Accelerating action through advocacy. Retrieved from https://advocacy.code.org/stateofcs

It’s not just us that is worried: all 50 US governors agree. Just in time for the start of the new school year, the National Governor’s Association recently released an agreement to improve computer science literacy, jointly signed by all governors. The compact, spearheaded by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, the 2021-22 National Governors Association Chairman, will promote “best practices, in addition to engaging other Governors on their strategies for success, to help increase computer science literacy around the country needed for the jobs of the future.”

So, what does this actually look like?

Specifically, the compact highlights a few target areas:

Increasing the number of high schools offering computer science courses by establishing rigorous K-12 computer science standards and implementing clear and flexible certification pathways and training opportunities for computer science teachers.

Allocating state or territory funding to K-12 computer science education by establishing positions dedicated to computer science in state and local education agencies and allocating funding for rigorous computer science teacher professional learning.

Creating pathways to postsecondary success in computing and related careers by allowing computer science to satisfy a core graduation requirement, requiring a computer science credit for high school graduation, and allowing computer science to satisfy an admissions requirement at institutions of higher education.

Providing equitable access to computer science for all students, which may be supported by improving state data collection, reporting and analysis of student participation in computer science and offering computer science in elementary and middle schools to build student interest and confidence before traditionally underserved populations begin to self-select out of the subject.

We’re excited to see how these commitments will shape the future of computer science and coding education and improve access for all young people.