Computer science develops problem-solvers and innovators. Computer science teaches computational thinking, which includes logical data analysis and organization, creating concise problem statements, identifying and implementing algorithm­‐based solutions, and generalizing and extrapolating solutions that can be applied to other problems. 

Helping students develop these skills will benefit them in every subject, in the classroom, and beyond. Computer science skills are in demand in the job market. Nearly every industry today is driven by applied computer science. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that half of all STEM jobs in the country will be in computing occupations, with more than 150,000 job openings annually. These jobs pay 75 percent more than the national median annual salary. According to Code.org, by 2020, there will be 1,000,000 more computing jobs than students/graduates to fill them, resulting in a $500 billion opportunity gap. According to a recent Gallup poll, nine in 10 parents say offering opportunities to learn computer science is a good use of resources at their child’s school, and 91 percent of parents want their child to learn more computer science in the future.