The CEOs of Uber, American Airlines, LinkedIn, and Microsoft are among hundreds who have signed an open letter to states calling for computer science courses to be required for graduation.
The letter cited a Brookings Institution study that found that students who have taken a single high school computer science course see an 8% increase in their wages, regardless of their chosen career. The letter projects that mandating computer science courses across all 50 states could unlock $660 billion in earnings for “everyday Americans.”
“This is not just an educational issue; it’s about closing skills and income gaps that have persisted for generations,” the letter stated. “It’s also about keeping America competitive. Countries like Brazil, China, S. Korea, and Singapore have already made computer science or AI mandatory for every student. The United States is falling behind.”
Artificial intelligence is on track to change the job market fundamentally, and the World Economic Forum estimates that 60% of current jobs will see significant changes by 2050 because of it.
“In the age of AI, we must prepare our children for the future — to be AI creators, not just consumers,” the letter stated. “A basic foundation in computer science and AI is crucial for helping every student thrive in a technology-driven world. Without it, they risk falling behind.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a computer science professional is $140,000.
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The push to incorporate more computer science classes into secondary education comes as the nation sees a shortage of STEM teachers. The Department of Education reported in 2020 that 82 out of 150,000 newly certified teachers received certifications to teach computer science.
The letter states that advocates have been making significant progress in recruiting computer science teachers, with over 100,000 teachers starting in the last 10 years.