Gov. Ned Lamont is primed to sign a bill meant to expand computer science in Connecticut’s K-12 public schools after the measure passed in the state House and Senate.
“Nearly every time I speak with business executives, they tell me that one of the top necessities to build a successful company is the availability of a workforce that is trained in modern skills, particularly computational skills,” Lamont said in a statement. “Our state has been a leader in this area, but we can do better.”
The bipartisan bill, which was introduced to the state Senate by Minority Leader Pro Tempore Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) and Democratic state Sen. James Maroney (D-Milford), requires the creation of a statewide K-12 computer-science curriculum by next year, to be implemented by 2022.
In an interview earlier this year, Witkos said the bill was key to beefing up Connecticut’s workforce development, as the state tries to attract tech-focused companies.
“If we don’t have the employees available for these employers, we’re not going to give them the opportunity to meet the goals that they have and the ability to grow,” Witkos said. “So we want to make sure that we have our workforce educated in the skills that our employers are looking for.”
State Department of Labor (DOL) data show 15,000 computer-related jobs — ranging from systems analysts to app developers — will be available in Connecticut over the next decade. As of 2016, there were just under 49,000 people working IT jobs in the state, and the DOL estimates that number will grow to about 55,000 by 2026.
Demand for Connecticut employees with computer-science skills is nearly three times the national rate, according to Code.org.
In a statement praising passage of the bill, Gov. Lamont said he thinks it will also promote education equity across the state by guaranteeing each school provide a yet-to-be-defined level of computer education.
“It should not matter what neighborhood a child lives in, or their racial or socioeconomic status,” Lamont’s statement said. “We should be providing every student with the tools needed to obtain good paying, 21st century jobs.”
