[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 161 (Thursday, December 13, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8038-S8039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION WEEK

 Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I rise in recognition of 
Computer Science Education Week, which started on Sunday, December 9, 
2012, and continues through Saturday, December 15, 2012. This week long 
celebration is an opportunity for educators and students to participate 
in activities that will elevate computer science education at all 
levels. The date for Computer Science Week honors Grace Murray Hopper, 
who was born on December 9, 1906, and who pioneered new programming 
languages and standards for computer systems that laid the foundation 
for many subsequent advances in computer science. In my home State of 
Pennsylvania and across the Nation, this annual celebration helps to 
spark interest in a subject of critical importance to our economy now 
and in the future.
  Computers touch nearly every corner of our economy and mastery of 
computer science is a valuable skill set for jobseekers. According to 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 9.2 million jobs in the 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM, fields by the 
year 2020. Half of these jobs, or 4.6 million, will be in computing. 
That is one in every two STEM jobs.
  Unfortunately, not enough high school students are mastering these 
STEM subjects. According to the College Board, in 2011, 3.4 million 
advanced placement exams were administered to high school students. 
Fewer than 1 million of these exams tested a STEM subject. Only about 
20,000 of these exams were in the subject of computer science, 
accounting for 2 percent of the total science exams and 1 percent of 
all AP exams administered last year. Of even greater concern, only 
4,000 females took this AP exam. Our policies, schools, and education 
systems must respond to the demand for a larger, more diverse computing 
talent pipeline. Computer Science Education Week brings attention to 
these issues and builds enthusiasm for potential solutions.
  In Pennsylvania, computer science educators and supporters have 
planned a number of events to observe Computer Science Week. At a high 
school outside of Philadelphia, ninth graders are converting room 
numbers to binary representation and relabeling the classrooms in their 
school. Springfield will further host an event for students, families, 
and community members to present information about that district's 
upcoming computer science curriculum, as well as hold an exposition of 
student projects. For the third consecutive year, students from 
Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges will present

[[Page S8039]]

their summer and senior work in computing. At Villanova University, 
computer science projects and computer scientists are being showcased 
at the library all month. Drexel University will host a series of 
events that honor computer science's contribution to society and raise 
awareness of its importance in education, economic growth, and 
technological innovations.
  The inclusion of computer science in K-12 education is of vital 
importance to prepare students for work in this field and to access 
emerging available jobs. Earlier this Congress, I was pleased to 
introduce S. 1614, the Computer Science Education Act, which would 
strengthen computer science education in elementary schools and high 
schools. The Computer Science Education Act would help to ensure that 
American students not only use technology in school but also learn the 
technical computing skills needed to grow our economy and invent the 
technology that will drive our economic future. Technology firms and 
backers of computer science education in Pennsylvania and elsewhere 
strongly support this legislation as a necessary investment in our 
future economic competitiveness.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues on these issues. America 
simply cannot afford to continue wasting talent and opportunities in 
the computing field. This Computer Science Education Week, I applaud 
the efforts of educators, students, and activities organizers who are 
showcasing the importance of this subject.

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