"How NY State Can Expand Access to Tech Careers by Boosting K–12 Computing Education"
Replay of event
Event materials

As New York positions itself as a global leader in innovation industries and applied AI, closing persistent tech workforce gaps will be essential—both to expand access to well-paying careers for New Yorkers from the Bronx to Buffalo, and to ensure employers have the talent they need to succeed. Achieving this starts in New York's public schools, by equipping tens of thousands more students with foundational computing skills and the confidence to thrive in a digital economy. While New York has taken important steps in this direction—through the city's 10-year Computer Science for All initiative and state-level efforts to support computer science instruction—more will be needed to build on this momentum and equip every New Yorker for the opportunities ahead.

This forum explored why bolstering computing education in the state's K-12 schools is so important to closing opportunity gaps in the tech workforce, how New York State currently fares when it comes to supporting computing education in its public schools, and what more the state should do to ensure a lot more young people across the state build the foundational computing skills and technology competencies needed to get on a path to high-wage jobs in tech and AI.

Speakers included:​

• State Senator Kristen Gonzalez; Chair, Internet & Technology Committee
• Assembly Member Steven Otis; Chair, Committee on Science & Technology
• Assembly Member Michaelle C. Solages; Chair, Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus
• Assembly Member Emérita Torres; Member, Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce & Industry
• Sarah Henderson Rosenberg, Senior Program Manager, Knowledge, Skills, & Learning, Google.org
• Annmarie Lanesey, CEO and Founder, Can Code Communities
• Tom O'Connell, Founder, CSForNY
• Ron Summers, Chief Impact Officer, Mouse

This symposium was made possible through generous support from Robin Hood. We are also grateful for general support from The Clark Foundation, the Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation, the Altman Foundation, and ongoing support from a number of other philanthropic funders.