Dive Brief:
- Rhode Island's new Computer Science for RI (CS4RI) program aims to have every public school in the state teach computer science classes by December 2017; currently just 1% of RI students are enrolled in CS classes.
- The program is a collaboration with Code.org, Microsoft and various colleges and universities.
- Acting Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King Jr. commended the state's efforts towards preparing students for the "innovation economy," saying, "By offering computer science in every public school and every grade, Rhode Island has become the latest state to lead the way in offering computer science for all."
Dive Insight:
Although Rhode Island is looking ahead, the funding currently allocated by Gov. Gina Raimondo will need some serious padding from partners before any headway is made. Her proposed budget allocation for the new program is $260,000. For a computer science initiative that's supposed to start in kindergarten, corporate partners and federal funding seem like a necessity.
Given the fact that only 1% of students are currently enrolled in computer science classes, an equity gap already exists. According to state figures, AP Computer Science is offered in just nine public RI high schools, none of which are Title I schools. A 2012 tech program in the state brought new laptops and wireless access into classrooms and trained teachers in IT issues.