We can crack the code in Charlotte
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This is part of our expert post series. David Jessup, Jr. is the founder and chief executive officer of Digi-Bridge, a nonprofit organization aspiring to create a generation of well-equipped 21st century learners.
As our community works together to connect all residents to the Internet, we must begin teaching computer science education in all of our schools if we want to equip tomorrow’s workforce and accelerate economic mobility.
Earlier this year, we learned that Google Fiber was coming to Charlotte.
While many are questioning what exactly this jewel will mean for our crown, I can tell you with certainty that this announcement has established a sense of urgency around bridging the digital divide, or getting the 19% of Charlotteans currently without access, connected at home.
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Great efforts are underway as civic leaders, philanthropic organizations and the business community convene on a monthly basis in an effort to ensure that all residents have access to the World Wide Web.
I’ll posit that getting our homes connected to the Internet is just the start and the momentum we’ve gained here should fuel our advocacy efforts around the introduction or expansion of computer science education in our K-12 learning institutions. If we as a community are truly ready to develop and deliver a generation of learners equipped to take on the challenges of a 21 century global economy, we must expose our students to the field computer science.
Daily opportunities to not only consume technology, but also to understand and control it, will only benefit all of us.
As one of only 26 states that currently allow students to count computer science for credit towards high school graduation, we are well positioned to expand offerings within our schools.
The fact that only 71 of our 2,600+ public and charter schools statewide are teaching computer science when it’s been predicted that there will be over one million unfilled jobs in the field by 2020, is startling.
We need to be advocating for the availability of computer science classes in all schools, equipping our teachers with the basic skills to facilitate courses and providing pathways for those who show mastery and a desire to pursue opportunities in the field.
Charlotte, it’s our time to lead by example.
Let’s use the momentum we’ve created around getting people online and “crack the code” in an effort to create innovators through the delivery of computer science education in our K-12 schools.
Organizing and advocacy efforts are underway. If you’re interested in serving as a community bridge builder or would like to make a gift in support of these efforts, contact Digi-Bridge.