To ensure more students are prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow, Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed Dec. 3-9, 2018, as  Computer Science Education Week.

“Nearly every industry in today’s economy needs computer programmers,” Cooper said. “To ensure our students are ready for high-demand jobs today and into the future, we must provide more opportunities for K-12 students to learn coding and technology skills.”

Currently, there are more than 20,000 unfilled computer science jobs in North Carolina, with the average salary for those jobs topping $91,000. Yet, only 15 percent of North Carolina high schools offered an Advanced Placement computer science course during the 2016-17 school year. Research shows that students who take a computer science course in high school are six times more likely to pursue a computer science major in college.

“Expanding access to computer science education is key to attracting good-paying jobs and keeping our state economically competitive,” Cooper said. “To prepare for high-demand jobs, students need access to computer science learning opportunities throughout elementary, middle and high school.”

This week’s proclamation is just the latest in a series of efforts to promote computer science in education. In April, Gov. Cooper joined the Governors’ Partnership for K-12 Computer Science, a group of bipartisan state leaders committed to advancing policy and funding to expand access to, and increase equity in, K-12 computer science education.

On Friday, Cooper will engage with computer science students and teachers at the Experience More Work-Based Learning Summit, sponsored by the NC Business Committee for Education and the Governor’s Office in partnership with the NC Community College System, the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Commerce and NC Works.

The full Computer Science Education Week proclamation can be read at nc.gov.

– Submitted article