Did you know that taking one high school computer science class could boost students’ future wages by 8%? That’s why more than 200 CEOs are calling on state leaders to require computer science education in high school.
That’s according to a letter issued last week by Code.org and CSforALL signed by hundreds of high-profile COEs, including Khan Academy’s Sal Khan, Dell’s Michael Dell, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and many more.
The letter suggests that encouraging such education could unlock $660 billion in “economic potential” and address the skills gap in the U.S.
“Just one high school computer science course boosts wages by 8% for all students, regardless of career path or whether they attend college,” the letter reads.
This claim is supported by a recent working paper from researchers at the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, which found that high schools offering high-quality computer science courses increase students’ likelihood of being employed by 2.6% and annual earnings by nearly 8%.
However, computer science has yet to become a core part of the country’s education system, according to Code.org. Twenty-nine states have adopted policies that give all high school students access to computer science courses. Additionally, 13 of those states offer such education in grades K through 12.
Most importantly, only 12 states require students to learn the fundamentals of computer science.
“This is not just an educational issue; it’s about closing skills and income gaps that have persisted for generations,” the letter reads.
The CEOs argue that in the age of artificial intelligence, students must understand the basics to succeed in a technology-driven world. While progress has been made in this area, these leaders say it’s not enough.
“We can’t stop here,” the letter closes. “We must make computer science and AI a required part of every high school’s curriculum.”
Read the full letter here.
More from DA: New statewide cellphone bans ahead for next school year
