Technological innovation is evolving at lightning speed, and there is a persistent shortage of skilled labor to fill much-needed tech jobs—there are more than 20,000 open computing jobs in Washington alone. For Washington state to maintain its leadership in technology innovation, we must fill our talent pipeline with future inventors, entrepreneurs, creators, and visionaries. Therefore, it’s imperative that we integrate computer science and computational thinking as foundational skills into the K-12 system so students in Washington state can be successful in the 21st-century economy.

Over the last decade, Washington state has been making strides toward providing equitable access to computer science education for all students, but there is still much to be done. The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) partnered with Washington STEM to outline a strategic plan for the implementation of computer science education across the state. The year-long partnership culminated in the Cross Sector Computer Science Report and Plan, the final version of which was published in 2023. WTIA and Washington STEM worked closely with decision-makers, policymakers, K-12 and higher education stakeholders, business leaders, and community members to create the report and strategize on ways to achieve its goals. 

Completed in April 2023, the final report is the conclusion of a series of reports and provides a landscape analysis of the progress made so far, key learnings, and recommendations for the future. The report’s data serves as a baseline for the next decade and invites all stakeholders to think forward to the future of computer science education in Washington. The report’s findings consider how Washington state can fully implement its K-12 computer science strategy and how the business community can better support that work.

Conversations with partners across Washington revealed that there are multiple system-level barriers to achieving full implementation of K-12 computer science education. To date, implementation and investment in computer science in Washington has been inequitable and siloed. This is evidenced by course offerings available in each school district, available via data from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and in a dashboard created for this report by Washington STEM. Additionally, Washington STEM created another dashboard, using data from the Education Research Data Center, to demonstrate the number of K-12 computer science graduates and how many went on to receive a post-secondary credential in a computer science-related field. The data sets currently available demonstrate the significant gaps and opportunities for improvement in the equitable implementation of the state’s computer science education strategy.

There are bright examples of districts, businesses, and communities coming together to implement innovative solutions to improve access to computer science for students. For instance, Dr. Amy J. Ko at the University of Washington is working to create a new pre-service secondary computer science teacher education program, preparing grade 6-12 educators to teach computer science and data science in middle and high schools, either as standalone computer science courses or through integration in existing subject areas. Another great example is the effort led by the Northwest STEM Network to align high school computer science courses with community and technical college programs. Students can receive credits for both high school graduation and toward a college degree, streamlining the pathways for those seeking a computer science credential following high school.

Washington STEM identified five opportunities to disrupt and change systemic barriers to full implementation of computer science education: 

• A fully funded statewide, cross-sector Computer Science leadership structure to support K-12 implementation of equitable access to CS 
• A mandate for improved data visualizations and accountability metrics in statute, yielding accountability through data
• Expanded teacher training programs to prepare educators to teach computer science effectively
• Coordination and partnership, with input on the Cross-sector Strategic Plan and support for its implementation, as well as convenings to connect educators, Computer Science advisory, and stakeholders
• A broader understanding of postsecondary pathways into computer science by utilizing data from Washington STEM’s Computer Science Credential Opportunities by Region Index (CORI) dashboard to prioritize policies and funding for increasing access to computer science programs in each region of the state 

Read the full report, which details learnings, actions from the 2023 legislative session, and recommendations for future connections. 

While challenges remain when it comes to achieving complete and equitable implementation of K-12 computer science education in Washington state, we can learn from the promising examples of successful initiatives and partnerships. The strategic plan outlined in the Cross Sector Computer Science Report and Plan provides a roadmap for achieving equitable access to computer science education for all students. With continued vision, collaboration, investment, and advocacy, Washington state can continue to lead the way in computer science education, preparing K-12 students for the jobs of the future and fostering innovation and economic growth in the state.