Overview of the Report
"By 2020, one of every two jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) will be in computing," said Bobby Schnabel, Chair of the ACM Education Policy Committee. "This concentration of computing positions in STEM makes it imperative for K-12 students in academic and career technical education programs to gain more opportunities to learn computer science."
ACM CEO and Executive Director John White said that despite national calls for improved STEM education, computer science is largely omitted from these reforms. "A key factor in the limited access to K-12 computer science programs is the notion that computer science is not considered part of the 'core' subjects that students are expected to learn. We need to expose all students to computer science so they learn the vital skills that are increasingly relevant to a broad range of well-paying occupations," he said.
The report presents the results of a study conducted by the ACM Education Policy Committee. The study, based on data gathered from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, was designed to assess the national computing workforce landscape, and to determine how well states are preparing K-12 students with the computing skills necessary for their future careers.