A+: Computer Science Education is Changing Alabama

Tammy Dunn, Vice President of Academic Affairs, A+ College Ready

Computing jobs are the largest source of new wages and comprise half of the new jobs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields in the United States, according to Code.org, a national leader in Computer Science Education. This year in Alabama, there are approximately 5,800 open computing jobs in sectors like cyber security, data analysis, and manufacturing with an average salary of over $80,000 a year. This number will only grow over time as technology continues to change not only the economy but our everyday lives.

Computing is now a foundational skill for K-12 students, which I often refer to as the third most important literacy following reading and math. It develops students’ computational and critical thinking skills and teaches them how to create, not just use, new technologies. A survey from Code.org found that 90% of parents want their child’s school to teach computer science. Additionally, 67% of parents and 57% of teachers believe students should be required to learn computer science. With the passage of the 2019 Computer Science Bill, every K-12 school will be required to offer a high-quality computer science course to its students. This legislation sets Alabama up to be a national leader in computer science education quality and access for students.

Kids using computers

Adobe Stock Photos

Making computer science curricula available to all students is critical to both their future success and the future success of our state’s economy. As you know, the Alabama Legislature took steps to ensure high-quality computer science courses are available in every K-12 school through the 2019 Computer Science Bill and subsequent funding for teacher training. This year, every high school and middle school must offer a course; next school year is the deadline for elementary schools. The bill also created new certification pathways for educators to teach computer science in their schools.

A+ College Ready and our parent organization, A+ Education Partnership, have been working since 2012 to build the infrastructure for computer science education for all students. This work has been made possible through our partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education and as the Regional Partner of Code.org. A+ College Ready has been expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP) computer science courses at the high school level since 2013 through our Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program. Additionally, we participated in the State Board of Education’s Computer Science Course of Study Committee that created the framework for computer science education in K-12 classrooms. After that, we developed high-quality virtual and in-person computer science training for K-12 teachers to ensure schools are ready to implement the aforementioned legislation, including a praxis prep course to ensure educators pass their certification test.

Since 2016, we have trained over 3,300 teachers statewide. This has led to 21,819 middle school students taking the Computer Science Discoveries-Alabama course and 10,756 high school students taking computer science courses in the 2021-22 school year, showing constant growth in access for students year-over-year. For context, the year before, only 9,317 middle school students were in a course.

Our state has come so far in the quest to provide equitable access to high-quality computer science courses to all students. The need for trained computer science educators will only continue to grow, and A+ College Ready is proud to support this expansion. Continuing this work must be at the heart of our work as educators and leaders, as these skills are paramount to ensuring every student graduates from high school ready to succeed in both college and career.