A highly experienced superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, writes about the current state of Computer Science in K-12 schools.

A good national infrastructure is built on the foundations of a great education system. Only 51% of public high schools in the United States offer computer science courses. But it is not enough to only offer the courses. We must also increase accessibility to these classes, to encourage more students to take these courses. Computing jobs are on the rise yet the number of graduates in computer science is only a small percentage of the jobs available. The demand will continue to rise and it offers opportunities for underrepresented groups. Yet, those underrepresented groups are less likely to take the courses when they are offered. That is why we must increase accessibility, so that those who lack the connections to be employed in these fields can gain the employment that they seek.

It is not only those in the education field who are interested in this subject. Companies like Apple, Microsoft and Google, along with manufacturers like Nike, Starbucks and Walgreens signed the letter alongside of multiple teacher unions, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce calling on states to ensure that every K-12 student is given the opportunity to learn computer science.

For more information, please read the article: Our K-12 Students Cannot Wait Any Longer For Computer Science Education

One of the more well known problem in this day and age is that children are constantly focused on a screen. Screen time is increasingly becoming present in children’s and teens’ daily lives as schools incorporate more digital devices for use in the classroom. Too much screen time has been linked with a host of issues such as sleep disorders, obesity, and an entire range of mental health problems, tending to result in lower academic performance. It’s too easy for people to get addicted to what is on their screens. So, what can be done about this?

The article below has several points on this:

1. Not everything that has been replaced by technology has improved retention
2. Have a honest talk with kids regarding screen time
3. If you are concerned about the screen time in schools, talk to the teachers about it
4. It’s easy to lost track of time, but keeping track of screen time helps

For more information, please read the article: How I got my students to stop staring at screens

Two areas in computer science education that is worth expanding upon are AI and data science. But it is not only about making the topic taught in classes, it’s also about giving kids access to good resources to learn these subjects, improving professional development for their teachers, giving career counselors the resources that they need to direct students with interests in these fields to where they need to go, and more. This imperative was presented last month at the International Society for Technology by CSforALL, an education advocacy group.

The main points from Leigh Ann Delyser, CSforALL’s co-founder and executive director, are:

• Education in Computer Science can help the next generations handle major societal issues
• Students from all kinds of backgrounds should have a foundation in computer science
• Development on AI and data science has been in action for some time, now is the time to put those models to work in education
• It’s never too early to start teaching AI

For more information, please read the article: Why Computer Science Classes Should Double Down on AI and Data Science

In today’s world where artificial intelligence is seen as the path to future technological development, Break Through Tech invests $26 million to work with top AI programs being offered at Cornell Tech, MIT’s Schwarzman College of Computing and UCLA’s Samueli School of Engineering to help increase accessibility to undergraduate education in the field of artificial intelligence for students in the surrounding areas.

For more information, please read the article: Break Through Tech Announces $26 Million Investment to Increase the Number of Women in Artificial Intelligence

Break Through Tech partners with Florida International University’s College of Engineering and Computing Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences (KFSCIS) to develop programs to assist women and minority communities in getting degrees and careers in technology along with leadership positions in the field.

For more information, please read this article: FIU partners with Break Through Tech to increase diversity and gender equality in Miami’s tech ecosystem