Giving Compass' Take:

• With tech industry jobs becoming more prevalent, Getting Smart writes how teachers and administrators can take a comprehensive approach to building tech and STEM skills that can prepare students for jobs that require this knowledge. 

• There are tools for educators to teach students on tech and STEM, but what tips can parents implement? How can donors help drive organizations and after-school programs that aim to help students learn about the tech industry?

• Here's how we can improve STEM self-esteem in children. 

The widening tech skills gap is a crisis that looms large for our nation and our economy. The fix may lie in the hand of educators in the elementary and middle school grade levels.

Educators and those in the education field can help close the skills gap that is growing even larger as we move beyond the 21st century.

According to a 2017 report from TechRepublic, the tech industry is having trouble finding skilled talent. The skills gap is attributed, in part, to the need to build foundational skills as part of the education journey. There are more than a half-million open technology positions in the United States, and research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that by 2020, there will be a million more jobs available in computing than qualified applicants who can fill those roles.

Read the full article about the technology skills gap crisis by Christine McDonnell at Getting Smart