Congressman Chuck Fleischmann toured the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and Redbank High School to view the implementation of computer science literacy programs. Upon conclusion of the tours, the Congressman held a roundtable with local leaders and industry representatives to discuss plans for future STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) initiatives.
“Investing in K-12 computer science educational opportunities is essential to ensure our future workforce is equipped with the skills needed to fill critical jobs and keep America competitive," Congressman Fleischmann said. "As it stands, only 35 percent of high schools offer computer science courses despite the urgent need for a strengthened high-tech workforce.
In order to meet the growing demands of employment criteria and job opportunities, there needs to be a renewed emphasis on public-private partnerships like the ones I toured today. It was incredible to see the tangible results of the robust investment of Microsoft in Hamilton County Schools that support and develop the next generation of STEM education. I hope the rest of the nation takes note of this investment as East Tennessee paves the way to equip students with the computational skills they need to compete in a 21st-century economy. In Congress, I will continue to advocate for increased funding for computer science literacy programs to ensure that our work here is only the beginning.”