CEOs push AI and computer science as a grad requirement

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States that require all students to take a computer science course to graduate high school, 2025
As of May 2, 2025A map showing states that require all students to take a computer science course to graduate high school: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Data: Code.org; Map: Axios Visuals
More than 200 CEOs on Monday signed a letter urging state leaders to mandate artificial intelligence and computer science classes as a high school graduation requirement.
Why it matters: The letter follows President Trump's creation of an AI education task force to expand students' exposure to AI instruction, as aptitude with the technology increasingly becomes a workforce expectation.
- "I think of it as a K-12 experience for students, where they're learning scaffolded knowledge about computer science throughout," said Cameron Wilson, president of Code.org, which led the effort.
- The effects are more significant for students who haven't historically been well represented in computer science fields, like women, students from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds and Black students.
- Some new computer science classes have seen higher enrollment among these underrepresented groups, according to research released last month.
- From 2009 to 2016 a Java-programming course was the only AP Computer Science class offered. The launch of a newer, more broadly focused AP Computer Science class quadrupled the female, Black and Hispanic student test takers.
- "It's about closing skills and income gaps that have persisted for generations. It's also about keeping America competitive."
- Several coding education and ed-tech company CEOs also signed on.
- 12 states require students to earn credit in computer science to graduate from high school, per Code.org.
- Those are Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
- Legislation in West Virginia was signed last week.
- In 22 states, computer science classes satisfy math, science or foreign language credits for college admissions requirements.
- About 6.4% of high school students take computer science classes annually, according to the Computer Science Teachers Association.
- Code.org offers computer science and AI curricula free to teachers.
- "Using the AI technology itself and learning to use it — that's helpful and useful. But then there's actually understanding how it works, and then actually using the AI to build and create and solve problems," he said.
- "Those things fit on a spectrum of knowledge, and I think all of those things sort of fit together for what I consider to be true AI literacy."
- He established a White House task force on AI education to build public-private partnerships that expand K-12 AI instruction.
- "A basic foundation in computer science and AI is crucial for helping every student thrive in a technology-driven world. Without it, they risk falling behind."