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Iowa named top 10 in the nation for computer science education
A ‘pride point’ is the growth in the number of students living in rural areas and girls enrollment in computer science courses
Nov. 8, 2023 5:30 am
Iowa has been named one of the nation’s top 10 states for computer science education for providing high-quality instruction in public schools, according to a newly released report.
Iowa tied for seventh place with Connecticut, making this the first time Iowa has ranked in the top 10 in the nation in the annual report from Code.org, the leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum in the United States.
During the 2022-23 school year, Iowa saw a significant increase from 71 to 83 percent of high schools providing foundational computer science opportunities. The national average is 57.5 percent of public high schools.
State rankings are identified by the implementation of 10 recommended policies that make computer science education foundational. These policies include the following initiatives:
- Create a statewide plan for K-12 computer science;
- Define computer science and establish standards for K-12 computer science;
- Allocate funding for rigorous professional learning for computer science teachers;
- Implement clear certification pathways for computer science teachers at elementary and secondary levels;
- Create programs at institutions of higher education for teachers in training;
- Establish dedicated computer science positions at state education agencies;
- Require that schools offer computer science with appropriate implementation timelines;
- Allow computer science to count toward core graduation requirement;
- Allow computer science to satisfy an admission requirement at higher education institutions;
- And require that all students must take computer science to earn a high school diploma.
Iowa scored highly in seven of the 10 categories and received recommendations for improvement in two areas: creating programs for college students preparing to be teachers and implementing a computer science requirement for graduation.
Those two areas are anticipated to be addressed over the next year, said Justin Lewis, computer science education consultant at the Iowa Department of Education.
“In just a few short years, we have significantly moved computer science education forward in Iowa,” Lewis said in a statement. “Through several intensive professional development opportunities, grant funding, STEM education priorities and, of course, the implementation of the computer science requirement at all grade levels, we have seen tremendous success. We will continue this important work to fill other gaps to ensure Iowa is at the top for computer science education.”
In 2020, House File 2629 established that all accredited Iowa high schools provide at least one computer science course by the 2022-23 school year. Middle schools also must now offer computer science instruction in either seventh or eighth grade, and elementary schools must offer it in at least one grade.
Corey Rogers, a computer science consultant with the Grant Wood Area Education Agency, said computer science education will ensure all kids are “future-ready,” regardless of their career path.
The Grant Wood Area Education Agency provides educational services — including computer science training and resources — to local schools in the seven counties of Linn, Johnson, Jones, Benton, Cedar, Iowa and Washington.
For the last five years, Grant Wood AEA has encouraged school districts to use a planning rubric called SCRIPT — Strategic Computer science for all Resource and Implementation Planning Tool. This guides district administrators, school leaders and educators through collaborative visioning, assessment and goal-setting to create and expand computer science education for all students.
In 2023, Iowa averaged 4,600 open computing jobs a month with an average salary of $91,700 a year.
“As an educator, that’s a very compelling number,” Rogers said. “As a parent, that’s a very compelling number. Kids can be here in Iowa and be part of jobs that allow them to support a family or whatever their goals are postsecondary.”
Rogers said a “pride point” is the growth in the number of students living in rural areas and girls enrollment in computer science courses.
However, there are still disparities. Hispanic students are 1.4 times less likely to take foundational computer science than their white and Asian peers, according to the report. Of the students enrolled in foundational high school computer science in Iowa, 75 percent are white and only 9 percent are Hispanic or Latino, 4 percent Black and 2 percent Asian.
About 35 percent of students enrolled in these programs are economically disadvantaged, 8 percent have a disability, 6 percent have a 504 plan, which provides accommodations so a disabled student can learn in a regular classroom, and 3 percent are learning English as a second language.
NewBoCo of Cedar Rapids — which provides professional development to educators to get started in computer science, deepen their understanding and learn how to apply it in their classrooms — also was recognized for the most elementary school teachers trained and implementing the Code.org Computer Science Fundamentals curriculum last year, said Samantha Dalby, NewBoCo’s K-12 education director.
Almost 2,000 educators from across the state have been trained in computer science since 2018 through NewBoCo, a nonprofit that provides coaching and mentoring to educators, entrepreneurs and other support services to small business owners.
Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com
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