Computer Science Education Is Essential for New York City Students and Companies Alike

Today, Tech:NYC testified in support of Int. No. 1193, a bill in the New York City Council sponsored by Council Members Mark Levine and Carlos Menchaca, that would help ensure that New York City fulfills its promise to prepare all public school students for the tech jobs of tomorrow. If passed, the legislation would require the New York City Department of Education to track and report information regarding computer science programs offered to students K through 12. 

There is no doubt that technology education will be vital for New Yorkers entering the workforce in the next decade: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be more than 1.4 million computer specialist job openings nationally by 2020. It will also be crucial for New York companies looking to hire more tech talent and for an ecosystem that continues to provide more technical jobs right here in New York City. Mayor de Blasio made a strong commitment to ensuring that young New Yorkers will be prepared for those jobs with the introduction of the CS4All program, a 10-year, $80 million public­/private partnership to offer computer science to every student and every school in the city.

You can read Tech:NYC Executive Director Julie Samuels’ testimony here.