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Arkansas Cybersecurity Task Force adds computer science course, increases broadband access

Arkansas Cybersecurity Task Force adds computer science course, increases broadband access
4029'S ALLISON WISE HAS MORE ON GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON'S ANNOUNCEMENT. FOR YEARS THE GOVERNOR HAS PUSHED FOR BRINGING MORE TECH COMPANIES TO ARKANSAS AND ADDING COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSES IN SCHOOLS. TODAY HE ANNOUNCED STUDENTS MUST HAVE A COMPUTER SCEIENCE CREDIT TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL, AND STATE IS INCREASING BROADBAND CAPACITY FOR SK-12 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. LAST YEAR THE GOVERNOR CREATED THE ARKANSAS COMPUTER SCIENCE AND CYBERSECURITY TASK FORCE THAT INCLUDES BUSINESS AND EDUCATION LEADERS AND STATE OFFICIALS. THE TASK FORCE GAVE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING REQUIRING COMPUTER SCIENCE CREDITS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, that will be phased in. we dont want to adversely impact juniors and seniors who didnt plan for that right now. but it can be put into effect immediately for students coming up through the pipeline. PROVIDE MORE INERNTSHIPS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS. PART OF THE PLAN WILL GO TO HELP THE STATE'S ECONOMY GET TECH COMPANIES AND START UPS TO COME TO ARKANSAS BY STARTING THE COMPUTER SCIENCE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND. we have our department of commerce with the lead on how to incentivize tech companies to come to Arkansas. K-12 SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS WILL ALSO BE GETTING HIGH SPEED INTERNET - FIVE TIMES FASTER THAN CURRENT SPEEDS. THAT WILL BE COMPLETED BY JULY NEXT YEAR. THE GOVERNOR SAYS WITH THE PANDEMIC - HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SEEN THE IMPORTANCE FOR FAMILIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS. LEADERS AT THE ARKANSAS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SAY THAT THIS CAMPAIGN COULD HELP STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND KEEP RECENT GRADUATES IN ARKANSAS, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE TECH INDUSTRY. gov hutchinson we want the students with computer science education to have a future in this state. its about creating a talent pool through education and attracting those who might have been from arkansas but they went to California, we want them back. THE GOVERNOR ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT T- MOBILE WILL DONATE 100 GIGABYTES OF DATA AND 18,000 INTERNET ACCESS DEVICES TO ARKANSAS
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Arkansas Cybersecurity Task Force adds computer science course, increases broadband access
Arkansas cybersecurity taskforce recommends computer science become a requirement. Watch the video above to learn more.In its report submitted to Governor Asa Hutchinson today, the Arkansas Computer Science and Cybersecurity Task Force recommends that Arkansas add a requirement for a computer-science credit in order to graduate from high school.The task force also recommends that every public high school have at least one computer science teacher.“From the day in 2015 when I signed Act 187 and Arkansas became the first state to require every high school to offer computer science, we have led the way nationally,” Governor Hutchinson said today. “But we can’t rest on our success. We owe it to our students to provide access to cutting-edge computer science education, and the task force’s recommendations will achieve that." Governor Hutchinson formally accepted the 52-page report on Thursday. The Governor established the panel in December 2019 to review the Arkansas Computer Science Initiative and to recommend ways to build on the initiative and maintain Arkansas’s national leadership on computer science education. The Governor also announced that T-Mobile will donate 100 gigabytes of data to eligible households and 18,000 internet access devices to Arkansas students as part of its Project 10Million, a nationwide program to increase access to the internet in rural areas. In a third announcement, the Governor said that Arkansas will increase high-speed broadband capacity to K-12 school districts, charter schools, and education cooperatives - five times faster than current speeds. The upgrade will be completed by July 1, 2021.

Arkansas cybersecurity taskforce recommends computer science become a requirement.

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Watch the video above to learn more.

In its report submitted to Governor Asa Hutchinson today, the Arkansas Computer Science and Cybersecurity Task Force recommends that Arkansas add a requirement for a computer-science credit in order to graduate from high school.

The task force also recommends that every public high school have at least one computer science teacher.

“From the day in 2015 when I signed Act 187 and Arkansas became the first state to require every high school to offer computer science, we have led the way nationally,” Governor Hutchinson said today. “But we can’t rest on our success. We owe it to our students to provide access to cutting-edge computer science education, and the task force’s recommendations will achieve that."

Governor Hutchinson formally accepted the 52-page report on Thursday.

The Governor established the panel in December 2019 to review the Arkansas Computer Science Initiative and to recommend ways to build on the initiative and maintain Arkansas’s national leadership on computer science education.

The Governor also announced that T-Mobile will donate 100 gigabytes of data to eligible households and 18,000 internet access devices to Arkansas students as part of its Project 10Million, a nationwide program to increase access to the internet in rural areas.

In a third announcement, the Governor said that Arkansas will increase high-speed broadband capacity to K-12 school districts, charter schools, and education cooperatives - five times faster than current speeds. The upgrade will be completed by July 1, 2021.