The nation needs more computer science teachers and bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) on Dec. 12 would authorize the training of such additional educators across the country.
“Addressing America’s critical shortage of computer science graduates starts in the classroom,” Sen. Wicker said. “This legislation would make targeted changes to existing teacher education programs to place more qualified computer science instructors in our schools.”
Sen. Wicker introduced the Teacher Education for Computer Science (Teach CS) Act, S. 3040, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include teacher preparation for computer science in elementary and secondary education, according to the congressional record summary.
S. 3040 is the U.S. Senate version of the same-named H.R. 3808, introduced in July by U.S. Reps. Tom Reed (R-NY) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
If enacted, the bill’s amendment of the Higher Education Act would make computer science instructors eligible for multiple teacher preparation grants and graduate fellowships, according to a summary provided by Sen. Wicker’s office.
The legislation also would authorize a new competitive grants program for eligible institutions of higher education to establish centers of excellence in teacher education programs for computer science, according to the bill summary.
The Teach CS Act has garnered the support of Code.org, Microsoft, CSforAll, Girls Who Code, the Computer Science Teachers Association, the National Education Association, State Educational Technology Directors Association, and 100Kin10.