Dive Brief:

• Google commissioned Gallup to research the underrepresentation of women and certain minorities in the computer science field, and the resulting report, “Diversity Gaps in Computer Science: Exploring the Underrepresentation of Girls, Blacks and Hispanics,” reveals barriers at every level.
• According to eSchool News, black students are less likely than their white peers to attend schools that offer dedicated computer science classes, and boys are 1.5 times more likely to have teachers tell them they would be good at computer science and 1.7 times more likely to be told the same by a parent.
• Black and Latino students are less likely to use home computers most days of the week, and Latinos and girls are more likely to rate themselves lower in computer science-related skills — but the report did find access to computer science is on the rise, with 40% of principal respondents saying their schools offered computer science in the second year of the study, up from 25% in the first year.

Dive Insight:

Code.org has been a major contributor to increasing opportunities for computer science in schools and raising awareness about the importance of it. Schools nationwide have held “Hour of Code” events in collaboration with the organization, and it has lobbied aggressively for state policies that allow students to count computer science classes toward graduation requirements.

The equity problem in access to computer science education is not surprising. The same is true for access to advanced coursework like Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs. Teacher shortages contribute to this problem. When it comes to physics, the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning is having a significant impact on its home state, preparing more teachers to offer physics and getting more girls as well as black and Latino students into advanced classes.