Computer science courses have become a necessary part of K-12 education to prepare students for success in college, career, and life. According to Code.org, a national leader in computer science education, there are 6,032 open computing jobs in Alabama with an average salary of $86,870. High-quality computer science courses help to prepare students to not only use but create new technologies that are necessary for the changing workforce.

In 2019, Alabama passed the Computer Science Bill, requiring every K-12 school in Alabama to offer a high-quality computer science course by 2022. The passage of this legislation made our state a national leader in computer science education policy. 

In the 2021-2022 school year, Alabama enrolled 35,679 students in computer science courses. Nationally, the number of students taking the Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles exam grew from 50,000 to 76,000 in just one year, showing the growing relevance of this coursework. As the rest of the world is gearing up to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, Alabama must continue to ensure students have increased access to computer science courses.