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Google and 4-H to Establish Coding Program in 22 States

Google has offered up a $1.5 million grant to 4-H, the largest youth development organization in the country, to help establish a computer science program in 22 states.

4-H has taught environmental science and engineering concepts to nearly 6 million youth since 1902, according to the organization. Now, through the partnership with Google, the organization is expanding its programs to teach youth — particularly in areas that lack access to technology — essential technical skills like coding, as well as soft skills like teamwork and resilience.

The goal is to equip today’s learners with skills needed for careers that use computer science, since there will only be approximately 400,000 qualified job candidates for more than 1.4 million open tech jobs in 2020.

The “4-H Computer Science Career Pathway” is designed to ignite interest in computer science, with the ultimate goal of committing to CS-related careers. The partners plan to equip community educators with “funding, curriculum, training, devices and the support of Google CS experts,” according to the announcement. “As with most 4-H programs, the effort will feature teen-led, peer-to-peer mentoring.”

More than 100,000 youth in the following states will benefit from the CS program: Alabama, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Interested individuals can contact their local 4-H office to find out more information about the computer science program.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

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