To the State Leaders and Policymakers of Ohio:

The undersigned Ohio business leaders, representing diverse industries that form the backbone of Ohio’s innovation economy, are uniting to call for renewed support for K-12 computer science education in the age of AI. 

Computer science provides an essential foundation for success in careers not just in technology, but in every industry. The computational thinking and problem-solving concepts inherent in computer science ensure students can think creatively about any problem in today’s world. 

That’s why studies show that students who learn computer science outperform in school, university, and beyond. Because of these concrete benefits, parents, students, teachers, and employers alike all support expanded access to computer science education. And now, the prevalence of AI and its impact on the workforce makes learning computer science even more relevant, as computer science concepts are a critical foundation for AI literacy.

At a time when every industry is impacted by emerging technologies, our schools should teach every student how technology works. Students should learn to be creators of technology, not just consumers. Instead, students from certain groups and areas continue to lack access to this education. Not addressing these disparities risks more students being left behind in our digital age. 

Here are some alarming Ohio trends according to Code.org’s recently released 2024 State of Computer Science Report:

• Ohio had the largest raw number of high schools stop offering computer science of any state in the country: 147 schools. Only because 124 schools started offering computer science did the overall percentage of schools offering drop just 1% from last year. 

• Ohio’s 61% of high schools teaching computer science is still significantly behind neighboring states, including Indiana (91%), West Virginia (78%), and Pennsylvania (75%).

• Only 3.6% of Ohio students take computer science in any given year, according to 2020 data.

In order to continue to provide Ohio students with a well-rounded, modern education that meets evolving market needs, computer science must be a priority. With the number of computing jobs expected to increase at more than 10x the rate of overall employment over the next decade, computer science offers a gateway to economic opportunity for students of every background. 

We, as industry leaders, commit to doing our part to help students achieve this success by collectively maintaining employment opportunities for computer science students across Ohio. The jobs we offer are in almost every sector and industry. Many of our businesses support work-based learning opportunities for students, and host internships to increase exposure to in-demand fields. 

But we can’t do this on our own. And with new data showing Ohio trending in the wrong direction, we can’t rest on our laurels. The administration and Legislature have been champions for computer science in recent years. As budget conversations start ahead of the 2025 legislative session, we urge state leaders and policymakers to reprioritize investment in computer science education, and ensure that every student learns computer science.

Computer science education has proven to be a bipartisan issue that can unite leaders across government, business, and education. Now is the time to act. For the sake of our students and economy, let’s unlock the opportunities computer science offers for every student today.

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Important Note: This Ohio letter follows a national letter sent by over 800 business and tech leaders to the Governors and Education Leaders of the United States of America. Read the national letter here.

You can read Code.org’s 2024 State of Computer Science Report here.