While K-12 schools see their students and teachers increasingly use artificial intelligence in the classroom, most states lack recognition that AI literacy and foundational computer science skills should be taught together, according to a new report by Code.org and CSforALL.
When AI and computer science are taught separately, the report suggests that states risk uneven implementation of AI education, which can lead to “fragmented expectations for the future workforce,” the two nonprofits said in a Wednesday statement.
“CS is the foundation and AI is the next frontier — and we need coherence across policy and practice so every student is prepared for an AI-powered future,” said Cameron Wilson, president of Code.org, in a Wednesday statement. “AI without CS is superficial — it teaches students to use tools, not understand or shape them.”
The findings follow an open letter sent in May to state leaders from over 250 CEOs who called for states to adopt computer science graduation requirements. CSforALL published the letter, in which CEOs wrote that such requirements are necessary to better prepare graduates for a workforce that’s becoming increasingly dependent on AI.
The Code.org and CSforALL research published Wednesday analyzes state level policies involving high school participation, course offerings and requirements for computer science. Here are some of the key figures from the report.
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