State Ed Tech Funding

Arkansas Spending $400K for Computer Science Program

• By Richard Chang
• 06/16/16

Arkansas is spending $400,000 to offer an online program for middle school students around the state, according to the Associated Press. The program is aimed at raising interest in computer science and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson this week announced the grant from the state Department of Education to provide the Learning Blade program to middle school students during the upcoming school year, AP said. Hutchinson said he’ll ask the legislature to include the funding for the program in the budget for future years.

The Learning Blade program teaches students computer science skills through academic exercises. The lessons are self-guided, allowing the students to work on the activities in the classroom or during after-school programs. Last year, lawmakers approved Hutchinson’s proposal to require public schools to teach computer science classes, AP said.