Learning about parents’ attitudes about STEM in the Searching for Computer Science report

We are passionate about bringing parents into a leadership role when it comes to their own kids education around computer science and Design. To that end, we’ve been reading up on the most recent surveys and statistics about what parents want for their kids, and what schools are providing to them.

The Searching for Computer Science: Access and Barriers in U.S. K-12 Education report indicates that K-12 parents think it is significant for students to learn computer science, and related skill sets, such as computational thinking and coding.

Parents, in particular low income parents, also think learning to code helps them to find jobs.

Although K-12 parents agree that coding should be taught in elementary, middle, and high school, most students don’t have the opportunity to learn computational science skills such as Computational Thinking and coding at schools in the United States. There is a big and complicated gap around how kids are being educated, and how parents want them to be educated.

Ninety one percent of parents want their children to learn computer science and coding. There’s a big opportunity there, with this enthusiasm for empowering kids with computer science. We hope to find better ways to let parents take charge and bring this learning into the home, as well as into schools.

If you are interested in statistics, check out the full report at Searching for Computer Science: Access and Barriers in U.S. K-12 Education report.