In June, 2013, Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens), along with over one-third of the Members of the New York State Assembly, sent letters to top administrators at the City University of New York, State University of New York, and the New York State Education Department suggesting the need for significant changes to state computer science curriculum requirements in public education institutions. The letters were accompanied by the introduction of Assemblyman Hevesi’s bills A.6540 and A.6543, which develop a framework aimed at strengthening computer science education by requiring the inclusion of computer science courses in the core curricula in secondary education as either a math or a science credit applicable towards graduation requirements.

The 21st century workplace increasingly requires a standard level of computer literacy that is currently not incorporated into the core curriculum of New York State institutions of public education. The failure to properly train our workforce to meet these advanced technological demands puts our state and local economies at a disadvantage to compete in markets both at home and abroad. Increasing the rigor of computer science in the public education curriculum can be accomplished through regulatory changes at CUNY, SUNY, and NYSED institutions.

“We have long since past the time for our state public education institutions to provide computer science curriculum that meets the demands of the 21st century workplace,” Hevesi said. “The technical skills provided through a core of computer science courses are fundamental to ensuring that our states young workforce remains competitive both domestically and abroad. It is my hope that CUNY, SUNY, and the New York State Education Department acknowledge the overwhelming support this proposal has gained in the Assembly, and make the necessary regulatory changes to bolster computer science curriculum in our public education institutions.”