Iowa has made significant strides in providing access to computer science education, recently ranking eighth in the country. However, this doesn’t mean every student has the chance to learn computer science. While the state has improved its standing, only five percent of high school students are taking computer science courses. With the increasing importance of computer science in our lives, especially with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), it’s crucial to ensure all students understand computer science concepts.

According to the 2023 State of Computer Science Report, Iowa rose to being tied at number seven in access to computer science offerings, up from spot 17th the year before. The State of Computer Science Report measures how states are progressing in computer science education implementation in 10 areas, including access and participation in high school computer science courses. The increase in access is because of new legislation that says that every accredited school district has to offer at least one computer science class, but not all students are choosing to take these classes.

According to this same report, only five percent of high school students took a computer science course last year. Now that computer science classes are an option for students, it’s important to focus on getting more students to enroll in them. The widespread use of computer science in our daily lives, along with the rapid growth of AI, highlights the critical need for all students to grasp the fundamentals of computer science.

How can we improve student interest and participation in computer science? Regardless of the approach to improving student interest and participation, the first step is to increase teacher capacity. Very few teachers have a background or training in computer science. Currently, there is no current endorsement requirement for computer science teachers, this means anyone can teach computer science as long as they are certified at that grade level.

There has been an effort to provide teachers with the computer science endorsement at the secondary level. One example of this is the partnership between the University of Northern Iowa and the Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEAs). This partnership has been funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and is responsible for providing hundreds of teachers with the endorsement. This partnership, and the larger endorsement work, is just one example of the work being done to help better prepare teachers to teach computer science.

Expanding computer science education at the elementary level can boost interest and involvement. By extending the requirement to multiple or all grade levels, students get more exposure to computer science concepts. This exposure helps them see the connections between computer science and other subjects, fostering interest and creativity. It not only enhances their ability to use technology but also empowers them to create it.

Proposing computer science as a graduation requirement is under consideration by lawmakers. If implemented, it’s expected to boost participation in computer science courses by 95% over the next five years. However, it’s important to address the prerequisites, like ensuring students are adequately prepared and have access to qualified teachers, before implementing this proposal.

Michelle Meier is an instructional technology consultant with Central Rivers Area Education Agency. She can be reached at mmeier@centralriversaea.org. Central Rivers AEA serves over 63,500 students including 53 public school districts and 18 non-public school districts. In addition, nearly 5,000 educators rely on our agency for services in special education, school technology, media and instructional/curriculum support. The agency’s service area reaches 18 counties and nearly 9,000 square miles. Learn more at https://www.centralriversaea.org/about/.