A coalition of over 250 CEOs, including Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen, have signed an open letter calling for mandatory computer science and AI education in K-12 schools across the United States. The letter warns that America is lagging behind countries like China and Singapore in preparing students for an AI-driven future.
The Call for Change
The CEOs emphasize that a single computer science course in high school can boost wages by 8% for all students, regardless of their eventual career path. They argue that making these subjects required rather than elective could unlock $660 billion in economic potential annually and help close persistent skills and income gaps.
Currently, only 12 states require students to learn basic computer science. While all 50 states have taken steps to expand computer science education in the past decade, the letter’s signatories argue this progress is insufficient given the rapid advancement of AI technologies across all industries.
Bipartisan Support
The initiative, spearheaded by organizations like Code.org and CSforALL, has bipartisan support from leaders on both sides of the aisle. The letter states, “In the age of AI, we must prepare our children for the future — to be AI creators, not just consumers.” The signatories include prominent leaders from Airbnb, Uber, LinkedIn, and Salesforce, among others.
The campaign highlights research showing that computer science education is not just about creating more tech workers, but about ensuring all American students have the foundation they need to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world economy. As the letter concludes, “We have a responsibility to prepare the next generation for the new American Dream.”
