Editorial Board

Kids Should Know How to Code

But it can't be done on the cheap.

August 11, 2017 at 1:00 PM UTC

By The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs.

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During a recent White House meeting with President Donald Trump, Apple CEO Tim Cook remarked that “coding should be a requirement in every public school.” He’s right. But turning an aspiration into a reality -- whether in the classroom or in the Apple store -- takes time, money and concentrated effort.

The economic argument for upgrading computer science education in the U.S. is strong. According to one estimate, there are as many as 500,000 open computing and data-science jobs in the U.S. but fewer than 50,000 college students graduating with the qualifications to fill them. Between 2014 and 2024, jobs in computer science and data research are projected to increase by 12 percent, faster than any other occupation.