Today, ACT | The App Association helped launch the Computer Science Education Coalition, a diverse group of organizations and companies focused on expanding K-12 computer science education across the United States. The coalition is urging Congress to help fill critical tech sector jobs, and ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in innovation.

Our membership is comprised of more than 5,000 app companies around the country. They actively express concerns felt within the industry and regularly come to Washington to meet with lawmakers to convey these views. Although some of their issues change over time, there is one concern that remains constant: the lack of well-trained software developers.

It’s no secret that the tech industry is booming. Daily headlines announce the explosive growth of startups alongside internet giants, and technology continues to be one of the strongest sectors of our economy. This success is particularly visible with software companies and mobile app makers. The average salary for developers – one of the most critical positions in any software company – reflects the success of the industry: $102,160.

Unfortunately, skilled tech workers are hard to find because U.S. schools don’t devote nearly enough resources to computer science education. In fact, only one in four K-12 schools teach computer science, leaving three-quarters of American students unequipped to enter the modern workforce. By 2024, there will be more than 1 million unfilled computing jobs.

There is, however, a way to address the shortage of American computer science talent. The Computer Science Education Coalition is asking Congress to provide $250 million in federal funding to computer science education this year, which would help put computing classes in more than 1,000 schools nationwide. We look forward to working with our members, the coalition, and Congressional leaders to enable a homegrown developer workforce that would ensure long-term stability and growth in the U.S. tech sector.

 

Image: U.S. Mission / license / no changes made