ACM Urges Obama to Include CS as Core Part of STEM Education

The ACM, the professional society for the computer professionals, issued a paper and a press release urging President-Elect Obama to include computer science as a core part of STEM education in the US. I was going to quote some of the key recommendations but in typical computer professional style there are too few wasted words in the press release and it started to look like I would quote the whole press release. But I will highlight one quote by ACM CEO John R. White.

"The new Administration can play an important role in strengthening middle school education, where action can really make a difference, to introduce these students to computer science. They can also expand efforts to increase the number of females and underrepresented minorities in this field and expand professional development opportunities for high school computer science teachers."

There is lots more in the proposal including fixing the mess that is computer science teacher certification in this county.

With every interest group in America and many from around the world sending the transition team recommendations this one may get lost. That would be very sad in my opinion. I really think we are at a key point in education where CS could really take its rightful role with some help from the Federal government, professional societies like ACM and industry partners like, well you know who I mean. And not just companies who make computer hardware or software either!