Submission + - WA Gov. Sides with Microsoft: Philanthropy-Funded K-12 CS Education Now the Law
theodp writes: During public hearings on WA State's House Bill 1813, which took aim at boy's historical over-representation in K-12 computer classes, the Office of the WA State Superintendent of Public Instruction voiced concerns that by relying on the generosity of corporations, wealthy individuals, and nonprofits to fund STEM, computer science, and technology programs, learning opportunities would be limited to a small group of students, creating disparity of opportunity. "If this is a real priority," pleaded Chris Vance, "fund it fully" (HB 1813, like the White House K-12 CS plan, counts on philanthropy to make up for tax shortfalls). But legislators in the WA House and Senate — apparently more swayed by the pro-HB 1813 testimony of representatives from Microsoft and Microsoft-backed TEALS and Code.org — overwhelmingly passed the bill, sending it to Governor Jay Inslee for his signature. Not to worry. On Wednesday, the bill was signed into law by Gov. Inslee, who was perhaps influenced by the we-need-to-pass-HB-1813 blogging of Microsoft General Counsel and Code.org Board member Brad Smith, who coincidentally is not only responsible for Microsoft's philanthropic work, but was also co-chair of Gov.-elect Inslee's transition team. The WA state legislative victory comes less than 24 hours after the San Francisco School Board voted to require CS instruction beginning with preschool. Not unlike the play The Music Man, in which "Professor" Harold Hill convinces naive parents their musically-disinclined children must learn to play instruments, Microsoft has teamed with other tech giants and their leaders to create a national K-12 CS crisis that has convinced politicians and parents — including the President of the United States — that America's computer science-disinclined children must learn to code ASAP. "Ya got trouble," one can almost hear "Professor" Bill Gates sing, "with a capital 'T' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for Programming!"
