{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/hurd-hill/hurd-hill-bringing-computer-science-middle-school-students", "Hurd on the Hill: Bringing Computer Science to Middle School Students", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Coding is the language of the 21st Century economy. If our students can\u2019t speak it, they will be left behind. We must do a better job preparing our students for the jobs that don\u2019t exist yet\u2014and we\u2019ve got to start at an earlier age.\u00a0\nOver 42,000 computer jobs go unfilled in Texas each year because we do not produce enough computer scientists\u2014and these jobs pay over twice the average salary in Texas. As a former computer science major at Texas A&M, this problem is close to my heart. There is no reason we should be missing the opportunity to prepare students for these high paying jobs.\nThe majority of students do not have access to computer science courses until high school. What is more interesting, is that according to a recent State law, most 8th graders must now select one of five \u201cendorsement\u201d tracks, which influences their course curriculum throughout high school.\u00a0 Students interested in computer science would theoretically choose the STEM endorsement track.\nBut how are they supposed to know that they are interested in computer science if they have never been exposed to it?\nTherein lies the problem: the vast majority of our middle schools do not offer computer science at all. Right now, the pipeline that produces Computer Science\u00a0professionals starts at the high school level.\nThat is why I have been working with several members of the public, private, and non-profit sectors, to develop a plan that provides earlier access to quality computer science education for our kids. In partnership with the University of Texas Center for STEM Education and non-profit organization Bootstrap, my curriculum initiative will train middle school teachers to integrate computer science into State-approved mathematics curriculums. Intel, Dell, Facebook, Brocade, and Toyota of Texas have agreed to generously fund the training, and the first training workshop will be held March 23 \u2013 25 in San Antonio.\nBecause the curriculum is taught through existing math classes, schools do not need additional teachers or classes. Forty middle school teachers from across the 23rd Congressional District of Texas may participate at little to no cost so that they can implement the program in the classroom in fall 2017. This could potentially expose at least 5,000 students in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas to Computer Science.\nIt\u2019s exciting that the public and private sectors are working together to produce real returns for the community, and it is my hope that we inspire many more students to pursue careers in computer science.\nIf you are a superintendent, principal, teacher or parent and would like more information, visit Hurd.House.Gov/CS or contact my office at 210-921-3130.\nHurd on the Hill: Trayendo Ciencias Inform\u00e1ticas a Estudiantes de Escuelas Secundaria\nPreparando a los estudiantes para la econom\u00eda del siglo XXI\nCodificaci\u00f3n es el idioma de la econom\u00eda del siglo XXI. Si nuestros estudiantes no saben hablarlo, ellos ser\u00e1n dejados atr\u00e1s. Necesitamos hacer un mejor trabajo de preparar a nuestros estudiantes para trabajos que a\u00fan no existen\u2014y tenemos que comenzar a una temprana edad.\nM\u00e1s de 42,000 trabajos de computaci\u00f3n no son llenados en Texas cada a\u00f1o porque no producimos suficiente especialistas de computaci\u00f3n\u2014y estos trabajos pagan doble del salario com\u00fan en Texas. Como un estudiante del estudio de ciencias de computaci\u00f3n en Texas A&M, este problema es de mucho inter\u00e9s para m\u00ed. No hay ninguna raz\u00f3n para que nosotros no aprovechemos la oportunidad de preparar a estudiantes para trabajos bien pagados.\nLa mayor\u00eda de estudiantes no tienen acceso a cursos de ciencias de computaci\u00f3n hasta la preparatoria. M\u00e1s interesante aun, seg\u00fan la reciente ley estatal, la mayor\u00eda de los estudiantes en el octavo grado deben seleccionar uno de cinco\u00a0 caminos de \u201caprobaci\u00f3n\u201d, lo cual influye sus cursos de curr\u00edculo para el resto de su tiempo en la preparatoria. Estudiantes interesados en las ciencias de computaci\u00f3n en teor\u00eda eligieran el camino de aprobaci\u00f3n de STEM.\nPero \u00bfc\u00f3mo van a saber si est\u00e1n interesados en las ciencias de computaci\u00f3n si jam\u00e1s han sido expuestos?\nAll\u00ed est\u00e1 el problema: la mayor\u00eda de nuestras escuelas secundarias no ofrecen cursos de ciencias de computaci\u00f3n. Actualmente, la ruta que produce a especialistas de ciencias de computaci\u00f3n empieza en la preparatoria.\nEs por eso que yo he estado trabajando con varios miembros del sector p\u00fablico, privado, y organizaciones sin fines de lucro para desarrollar un plan que ofrece acceso a educaci\u00f3n de calidad de ciencias inform\u00e1tica para nuestros hijos. En colaboraci\u00f3n con el Centro Para La Educaci\u00f3n de STEM de la Universidad de Texas y la organizaci\u00f3n sin fines de lucro, Bootstrap, mi iniciativa del curr\u00edculo entrenara a maestros de la secundaria como integrar ciencias de computaci\u00f3n en curr\u00edculos de matem\u00e1ticas, que sean aprobados por el estado. Intel, Dell, Facebook, Brocade, y Toyota de Texas generosamente se han puesto de acuerdo para financiar el entrenamiento, y el primer taller se llevara a cabo el 23-25 de marzo en San Antonio.\nComo el curr\u00edculo ser\u00e1 ense\u00f1ado por medio de clases de matem\u00e1ticas ya existentes, las escuelas no necesitaran maestros o clases adicionales. Cuarenta maestros de la secundaria a lo largo del Distrito Congressional 23 de Texas pueden participar a un costo m\u00ednimo o sin costo para implementar el programa en las clases el oto\u00f1o del 2017. Esto potencialmente puede exponer por lo menos a 5,000 estudiantes en el Distrito Congressional 23 a las ciencias de computaci\u00f3n.\nEs emocionante que los sectores p\u00fablicos y privados est\u00e9n trabajando juntos para producir beneficios reales para la comunidad y es\u00a0 mi deseo que podamos inspirar a muchos m\u00e1s estudiantes a seguir carreras en ciencias de computaci\u00f3n.\nSi es un superintendente, principal, maestro o padre y quisiera m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n, visite a Hurd.House.Gov/CS o comun\u00edquese con mi oficina al 210-921-3130.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/hurd-hill/hurd-hill-bringing-computer-science-middle-school-students"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8612840212881565, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}