Giving Compass' Take:

• Maxwell Bigman argues that the shortage of computer science educators creates an opportunity to build a pipeline of non-traditional talent to improve the education model. 

• How can you and funders in your area work to address the computer science educator needs in your community? What companies, nonprofits, and organizations can be brought into the equation? 

• Learn how to support STEM education. 

These days it seems that everyone wants to learn computer science. Computer science (CS) jobs are the number one source of new wages. Over 90% of parents want their child to learn CS. Forty-eight states have adopted policies supporting CS education, up from thirteen just a few years ago. With half a million unfilled computing jobs, the tech industry has a vested interest as well. Yet only 35% of high schools teach CS, and just fifteen states offer all high school students access to CS courses. The single biggest impediment to progress? The dearth of qualified teachers.

In 2016, only 75 CS teachers graduated from pre-service preparation programs. (In comparison, nearly 10,000 Math teachers graduated that year—and another 12,000 Science teachers).

Unlike in other well-established subject areas, there is a lack of both preservice programs and full certification options for CS teachers. To add to the problem, the US is facing a teacher shortage.

Without a sustainable talent pipeline, the demand for K-12 CS education will continue to go unmet. It is unrealistic to expect that the supply of CS teachers will see any profound changes. With the number of unfilled (high-paying) computing jobs, the opportunity cost of teaching CS is enormous.

Scarcity, however, can drive innovation. If every student is going to have access to high-quality CS education, schools must be willing to turn to non-traditional sources of talent, and they must open up alternative pathways for students to learn CS. Solving the nation’s CS teaching crisis could open the door to fundamentally rethinking the roles of teachers and industry in equipping students with these critical skills.

CS can lead the way in a broader philosophical shift towards welcoming outsiders into schools. Industry professionals could provide expert help in CS classes, such as through Microsoft’s TEALS program. By leveraging technology, exponentially more students can gain access to a wide variety of industry professionals. Students and teachers would benefit tremendously from a platform that offers them on-demand access to experts.

Read the full article about creative solutions for the computer science teacher shortage by Maxwell Bigman at Christensen Institute.