The FINANCIAL — Parents of seventh- to 12th-graders in the U.S. place a high value on computer science education in schools, according to a recent Gallup and Google study. Nine in 10 parents say offering opportunities to learn computer science is a good use of resources at their child’s school, and about as many (91%) want their child to learn more computer science in the future.
These findings are from a 2014 study by Gallup and Google with random, nationally representative samples of seventh- to 12th-grade students in the U.S., parents of seventh- to 12th-grade students and teachers of students in first to 12th grades. Gallup also surveyed a non-representative, but comprehensive sample of K-12 principals and superintendents.
Computer Science Just as Important as the Three R’s
As technology continues to rapidly advance and computer science becomes rooted in more aspects of society — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 1.3 million jobs in computer and mathematical occupations will be created by 2022 — many parents and educators see offering computer science educational opportunities to students as essential.
Most parents say computer science learning is at least as important to a student’s future success as required courses such as math, science, history and English. About one in five parents say offering opportunities to learn computer science is “more important” than these required courses and 64% think it is “just as important.”
Teachers, principals and superintendents also place a high value on computer science learning, although less than parents do. More than six in 10 teachers, principals and superintendents surveyed say computer science learning opportunities are just as important as or more important than required courses.
Students Expect to Learn Computer Science and Use It in Future Careers
Further, most students in grades 7-12 expect to have opportunities to learn computer science in the future. More than eight in 10 students say they are either “very likely” (27%) or “somewhat likely” (56%) to learn computer science in the years to come.
Students who have the opportunity to gain foundational computer science skills during their K-12 years may continue to build on these skills in college and take advantage of the growing number of professions that rely on them. Both students and parents anticipate that computer science skills will be necessary for jobs students will hold in the future. Most students (90%) say they are at least somewhat likely to have a job someday where they will need to know computer science, and most parents (85%) say the same about their child’s future career.
Principals, Superintendents May Underestimate Demand for Computer Science
Despite this high level of interest, many school and district administrators do not perceive a high level of demand for computer science education among students and parents in their schools. Less than 10% of principals and superintendents say demand for computer science is high among parents in their school or district, and less than 20% say demand is high among students.
Bottom Line
All groups — parents, students, teachers and administrators — agree that computer science learning is important. However, principals and superintendents may be underestimating how high the demand is for these studies among students and parents. Students and parents may need to actively communicate their desires and expectations to administrators if they strongly desire to see additional computer science learning opportunities in their schools. School and district administrators often face difficult decisions about where to place their resources given the competing educational priorities; however, majorities of the principals and superintendents surveyed see computer science as just as important to a student’s future success as other required and elective courses, indicating they place a high value on these opportunities.
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