On Wednesday, April 25th CompTIA testified before the California State Assembly Committee on Education in support of AB 2098 by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). CompTIA and TechNet are co-sponsoring the measure which would establish a three-year pilot for a 21st Century After-School coding grant program within the After-School Education and Safety (ASES) framework.
As industry leaders, we urge the state to invest in efforts to equalize access to computer science and coding courses, starting with the lowest-income students in the state. California leads the nation in technology jobs, innovation and average wage. According to CompTIA’s 2018 Cyberstates Report, which quantifies the size and scope of the tech industry and the tech workforce across multiple vectors -- employment in California’s technology industry expanded by an estimated 33,000 jobs in 2017 and contributed more than $350 billion to the state’s economy.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is predicted that by the year 2020, 4.6 million jobs will be in computing or information technology, which is more than all other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields combined. However, the number of students graduating with a computer science degree is minuscule compared to the number of available tech jobs and more importantly as it relates to this bill - there remains a large disparity between students from affluent schools and students from low-income schools with access to coding courses.
The California After School Computer Coding Grant Pilot Program provides critically needed exposure and access to coding for after school youth who are the least likely to learn to code in school or at home. We believe education holds the key to preparing the next generation learner to thrive and succeed in the digital marketplace and the world.
The bill passed the Assembly Education Committee unanimously on a 7-0 vote count and now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for additional consideration. Our testimony on AB 2098 (McCarty) begins at 6:08:15 - http://calchannel.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=5433
For additional information or questions regarding CompTIA’s position on AB 2098, please contact Kara Bush.
Kara Bush is the CompTIA Director of Government Affairs Western Region
