Maryland Computing Education Expansion

Abstract

Over the past five years, computing education initiatives in Maryland have expanded to include pre-K through college with a focus on broadening participation among female and minority students. A grassroots movement has grown from a small core team of high school teachers and university professors to a statewide steering committee and the newly established Maryland Center for Computing Education (MCCE). In this session, we will discuss how the expansion began, the current status, and the future plans for Maryland computing education. Even though Maryland is a small state, this effort is extremely important since computing jobs are central to the economy. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Maryland currently ranks first in STEM job concentration and in the high-tech share of all businesses [7].