Ivanka Trump will meet with business leaders in Detroit Tuesday to announce the private sector’s pledge in helping her father to roll out additional funding for K-12 computer science funding.
President Donald Trump will sign a memorandum Monday that will direct the Sec. of Education to invest a minimum of $200 million in funding for STEM, science, technology, engineering and math, programs.
“We think this is a pivotal step in the next generations of Americans being career ready,” said a Sr. White House Administration official.
The official said the goal is for every student across the country, from our rural areas to cities, to have increased access to fundamental computer training programs.
Quicken Loans Founder Dan Gilbert, Code.Org and Lockheed Martin will join Ivanka Trump in Detroit to announce the private sector’s pledge to the initiative.
The businesses that have agreed to make financial contributions have not been announced, but administration officials said they are not all technology companies.
Chairman and CEO of General Motors Mary Barra said the company supports the president’s decision to prioritize STEM and computer sciences.
“This is a great step in ensuring we are giving our kids the skills necessary for new technology jobs."
Currently, there are more than 6 million unfilled jobs -- 500 million in computers -- that can’t be filled because they don’t have the qualified workforce, said Sr. White House officials.
“This has been a priority and focus of admin even back to transition.”
Less than half of high schools currently offer computer programming, according to Code.org.
Officials said the programs will be designed with gender and racial diversity in mind.
