High-tech firms, educators push bills to fund computer science classes
High-tech companies in Austin and across Texas struggle to find workers with the computer science and technical skills they need. More often than not, they have to poach workers from other companies or recruit them from other states and countries.
Even at full capacity, the Central Texas higher education pipeline produces only half the computer science graduates needed to fill the open jobs in 19 of Austin’s key high-tech occupations, according to a 2015 report from the Austin Technology Council.
So this year, companies and educators are making a push at the Legislature in hopes of formalizing and garnering more financial backing for computer science programs in high schools. Proponents of five key bills say they’ve received broad, bipartisan support from lawmakers, but passage in a tight budget cycle is far from assured.
“We want future technologies and industries that will dominate the new economy to be created right here in Texas,” said Drew Scheberle, a senior vice president at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. “We want to be more in control of our own destiny. The key is that our talent has a well-rounded education and deeper skills in math and programming.”
Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/business/high-tech-firms-educators-push-bills-fund-computer-science-classes/0VcngwsBPB7b4IfavRi5sO/
[font color=330099]They might have a better chance if they would leave the science part out of the name.[/font]