Arkansas Still Building Computer Science Legacy

The most effective statement that former Government Asa Hutchinson told me during an initial meeting told me that during the Director of Computer Science, Arkansas, “I want you to bring us forward and put us in front, but bring other states together.”

It not only performed for the next eight years of me in which the Arkansas Computer Science Initiative was guided, but it is known as Arkansas nationally and internationally, based on the example of imitation for other states.

During the academic year of 2014-2015 (before the initiative began), only 1,100 students were taking computer science classes in all Arkansas high schools. Hutchinson’s vision was clear: Prepare the state students for the rapidly changing demands of modern manpower. With its personal affiliation – visiting more than 80 high schools to promote computer science – this move gave rise to a movement to change education across the state. During the first year of the move, the number of computer science students during high school increased to about 4,000.

Over the next seven years, Arkansas schools and students faced the challenges that the Governor and the Legacy set up. In the first year, with this initial growth of about 3,000 students, the state saw the growth during the year, including the Kovide 19 pandemic, in 2021, in 2021 to about 12,500. To this point, Arkansas found out how to meet the teachers ‘demand, to meet the students’ demand and to invest heavily in providing bonuses to the teachers.

In the spring of 2021, Arkansas became the second state of the nation, which adopted the need for computer science graduation, which applies to the graduating seniors of 2026. As a result, more than 23,500 students’ entries were jumped next year in 2022.

Government Sarah Hokkabi, headed by Sanders, is flourishing in the move. Sanders not only maintained the pace of his predecessor but also took steps to ensure that Arkansas remains at the forefront of innovation. The establishment of a artificial intelligence working group of its administration indicates the commitment to integrate the state’s modern technology into its work and educational systems. Focus on AI reflects the identity that emerging technologies are not only changing the manpower but also explaining the need for students to develop.

In 2023, State San Jim Dotson legislated, which led to a short moment of trouble for those of us who had been working on it for years. However, Dotson met, heard and heard with the Computer Science community, and finally, he maintained the need for graduation by providing more flexibility to our students and schools. This flexibility has come from adding a supply that allows students to meet the need by approving the approved career and technical education in which computer science is embedded. The model that Dotson championed is now being used and considered by other states as per the need for computer science. Currently, 11 states have adopted such needs, and many others are considering this year.

Arkansas’s success and growth did not end there. The move continues to increase, and more than 37,000 high school students are conducting computer science courses this academic year. The credit is not only to Sanders, Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva, and the current state director of computer science, Adam Mastu and his amazing team, but also to Arkansas’ teachers, students and legislators. Since the 95th General Assembly is kicking in high gear, the computer science community is confident that Arkansas will continue to move forward.

Arkansas computer science is proof of the power of education to advance leadership and economic development. As a bold idea under Hutchinson, what began as a bold idea is developed in the basis of the state’s educational and manpower development strategy. With constant support and innovation, Arkansas is not just preparing its students for tomorrow’s jobs – it keeps a map to follow the nation.

Anthony A Owen Computer Science Advocacy Coalition (Senior Director of State Government Affairs (Code Dot Organ,

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