Policy Resolution EDU-19-03

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) supports the need to improve elementary and secondary education so that students are prepared for high demand, high paying jobs of the future;

WHEREAS, it is national in scope in that every state has a school system that wants its students to succeed and be prepared for the jobs of the future;

WHEREAS, many of society’s major challenges have been identified as having potential computational solutions;

WHEREAS, computational thinking and digital literacy skills taught in computer science courses are rapidly becoming necessary to successfully navigate modern life and therefore are required by all children to be effective and efficient members of the digital information age;

WHEREAS, in 2017, an article by The Guardian reported that by 2053 the median wealth of Black Americans will fall to zero dollars;

WHEREAS, computing jobs are the number one source of new wages in the United States;

WHEREAS, the average salary for computing occupation in the United States is over $100,000 a year;

WHEREAS, there are currently over 6 million open computing jobs in the United States and their combined values compose billions of potentials in salaries;

WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that children, especially African American children, in the United States possess the skills necessary for these unfilled positions;

WHEREAS the number of teachers in the United States who are endorsed and certified to teach computer science is growing;

WHEREAS, most parents want their child to study computer science but only a small percentage of schools teach computer programming; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and propose to ensure all students have equitable access to a relevant computer science education to meet the needs of a growing technological economic across the nation.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) encourages state policymakers and legislators to encourage their respective states to implement a statewide public relations campaign to encourage more students and parents to choose STEAM (science, technology, energy, arts, and math) related courses in elementary and secondary education;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urge the creation of a comprehensive statewide campaign in each state targeting students, parents, businesses, community leaders, and educators to increase computer science awareness by convening a summit to expand public awareness of computer science and its wide breadth of utility in society; increasing counselor and administrator awareness of various science graduation options; enhancing awareness of curriculum options; by introducing computational thinking into elementary schools by organizing special classes or integrating the subject into existing curriculum; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Representative Dar’shun Kendrick (GA)
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Education Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Chair(s): Assemblymember Shirley Weber (CA) and Representative Harold Love (TN)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is November 30, 2018
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Gregory W. Porter (IN), President