Texas, and Employers, Need More Students who can Program Software

Posted on 03/07/2017 by Drew Scheberle

Support HB 395, HB 587, HB 588

HB 395, HB 587 and HB 588, legislation to be heard today in House Public Education Committee, if enacted, would help Texas grow its economy in Central Texas by addressing a major talent shortage in the technology sector. Texas currently does not have enough people who can create new applications, websites or fix computer and network systems. In order to properly address the need for trained talent in the Central Texas region, and to encourage computer science education in Texas, the Austin Chamber of Commerce has endorsed HB 395, HB 587, and HB 588.

Representative Cecil Bell introduced HB 395 which will consolidate Technology Applications and CTE courses while providing funding for computer science courses in Texas high schools. It would incentivize districts to encourage students to complete a computer science course, while funding computer software and offer support for teacher training. It would also eliminate duplicative courses while ensuring certifications are aligned with the content employers want for each course.

Representative Dwayne Bohac introduced HB 587 and HB 588. Bohac’s legislation will create a Technology Applications course funding allotment for high schools and provide funding for computer science courses. Under HB 588, a state-level computer science certification grant program would be created to encourage teachers to continue professional development in computer science education and to earn certification as computer science teachers.

Of the available job posting in Central Texas, 18 percent, or 7,000 jobs, are in the Computer and Mathematical Occupation Group. For the state of Texas, those numbers are 12 percent and 37,300 job openings. Even though employers are looking to hire in these areas, according to the Texas Education Agency, fewer than two percent of Central Texas High School students completed even one Computer Science course for each of the last five years. The problem doesn’t stop there. Only 90 teachers across Texas passed the certification exams for Computer Science to teach in high school and as of 2013, fewer than 15 percent of Texas High Schools offer AP Computer Science courses.

The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that computing occupations will grow by 21 percent, twice the national average of other industries. Jobs in this sector also pay 75 percent more than the national median salary with a million more jobs available than talent available to fill these jobs.

This legislation will go a long way to properly preparing students across Texas for careers in the new economy.


Related Categories: Education and Talent, Public Policy