UPDATE: The Department of Education responded to NEWS CENTER Maine's request for comment saying in part: "The Department is currently reviewing and revising the Maine Learning Results for Science and Technology and anticipate that computer science specific standards will be discussed as part of that process." $106 per student was allocated to students in preschool through eighth grade and $318 per student was allocated for high schools in fiscal year 2018 specifically for technology, according to the Department. Public hearings are scheduled this month to receive feedback from parents and educators.
OLD TOWN (NEWS CENTER Maine) – Maine schools are failing when it comes to teaching students computer science, according to a report by the Maine Computer Science Task Force.
The study found that less than 30% of Maine schools offer basic computer science courses, and many only offer it as an elective.
"There's a disconnect between how it works and why it works,” Christine Carney said.
Carney teaches STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at Leonard Middle School in Old Town. The relatively new position allows students there to learn skills like coding, building robots and using 3D printing technology.
"I think it's helpful for the future,” 13-year-old Carney’s student, Emily Millard, said.
Millard is actually in the minority in the state when it comes to access to courses that teach computer science. Advocates fear a lack of that education could be detrimental to students’ success in the workforce.
“Students that take a computer science course in high school are six times more likely to major in computer science in college,” chairman of the Computer Science Task Force, Jason Judd, said. “But Maine kids don't have that access so they don't even know what computer science is."
Judd works for Educate Maine, an organization with the aim of advancing education policies. He is also a member of the Maine STEM Council and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Code.org Regional Partners.
"What we need to do in terms of recommendations, and we've talked about as a task force, is have more investment from the state and more teacher professional development,” Judd said.
That could come at a hefty price: an estimated 1.2 million dollars to train middle school teachers in the state in computer science, according to Judd.
“It’s paramount,” Carney said.
Students in Old Town are on the right path, but Carney said it is time for other schools to get in board. She said without more investment in technology education, students are at a huge disadvantage, particularly in rural parts of the state.
"Our students really aren't given opportunities that they really need in order to either succeed elsewhere in the country or help support Maine so it can succeed along with the rest country,” Carney said.
The Department of Education did not respond to NEWS CENTER Maine’s request for comment.
The task force presented its findings to the Legislative Education Committee in Augusta in January. They hope the state adopts the goal of supporting all Maine middle schools to offer computer science classes by 2021.