In his State of the State address this week, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb affirmed a deep commitment to providing all Hoosier students with access to critical computer science opportunities in their schools.
“I’m proud that Indiana is a national leader in computer science education. Every Hoosier student needs an education infused with STEM subjects, critical thinking skills and the intellectual curiosity that prepares them for lifelong learning,” Gov. Holcomb said. “From 2016 to 2017, the number of Hoosiers with a STEM-related bachelor’s degree grew a healthy 8 percent, but we can and must do more.”
Holcomb included $3 million for each of the next two years in his 2019-20 budget proposal.
The Indiana Department of Education announced last week that the state had become only the third in the nation to implement all nine policies of Code.org’s Advocacy Coalition. Arkansas and Idaho have also implemented the policies.
“Indiana has long been a leader in education reform, and I applaud Governor Holcomb for making computer science a top priority and ensuring all Hoosier students have access to this critical field of study,” said Governor Jeb Bush, chairman and founder of the Foundation for Excellence in Education. “The digital world we live in today is moving at warp speed. It demands that we prepare all students, regardless of their field of interest, with fundamental skills in computer science, ensuring they build skills in logic, problem solving and creativity. I hope other states follow Indiana’s lead.”
“Indiana’s strong support for the tech sector and other 21st century growth industries, as demonstrated by Gov. Holcomb’s leadership, will prepare our students for success in schools, careers and in life,” said Allan Hubbard, board member of the Foundation for Excellence in Education. “With the strong support of Hoosier businesses and educators, our state can continue to be a great place to work, learn and live.”
Legislation passed last year requires all schools to have computer science curriculum in place by the 2021-22 school year. To ensure that students are learning what they need, Code.org has emphasized nine essential policies for states to adopt.
These policies include rigorous computer science standards, allocating funding targeted for teacher learning and support, dedicated computer science positions in district and state offices and allowing computer science to satisfy high school graduation requirements.
For more information on the critical skills of digital literacy, please visit: https://www.excelined.org/edfly-blog/digital-literacy-the-next-frontier/
For more information regarding Indiana’s commitment to computer science, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/wf-stem/computer-science
To learn more about Code.org’s nine policies, please visit: https://code.org/files/Making_CS_Fundamental.pdf
