Governor, project partners announce new computer science program

Twelve hundred Idaho students are going to get a free upgrade on their computer programming skills.

Gov. Brad Little and industry, government and education leaders announced the new Idaho Codes program Wednesday morning. Idaho Codes is an online, self-paced, computer science course that teaches students across the state in seventh through 12th grades how to build websites and develop apps with HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The students need no experience to participate. Urban and rural students alike will be able to access 120 hours of professional-grade curriculum, earn high school and college credit and find mentorship opportunities.

The first 1,000 students who register will get the normally $200 fee waived thanks to donations from the Acahand Foundation and St. Luke’s Health System in partnership with the Idaho STEM Action Center.

The public announcement was made during a Zoom conference with several project partners, including Rep. Gayann DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, whose two teenage sons are experiencing remote learning during the pandemic.

"The reality is, more and more of their world involves technology, and now is the time to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the world around them,” she said. "We need our 21st century students to be computer literate."

DeMordaunt said now is the perfect time for the delivery of a technology learning opportunity and Idaho Codes is an optimal platform to increase computer literacy among Idaho's students.

In order for them to have jobs in health care, cyber security, forestry, food processing, advanced manufacturing, mining, DeMordaunt said, "You name it, our Idaho kids have to be computer literate in almost any field.”

According to Little, computing literacy is a priority and necessity for Idaho. This program will help establish a workforce that will encourage businesses to grow their Idaho operations or attract others from out of state.

"Job opportunities in computer science will continue to grow," he said.

The Idaho Codes program is spearheaded by the Idaho Technology Council and the Idaho STEM Action Center.

The Education Commission of the States anticipates computing jobs in Idaho will grow 19 percent by 2027.

Visit www.IdahoCodes.org for information or for students to register for Idaho Codes.