College Board Puts Code.org In Charge of AP CS Program

theodp writes: "The College Board," reports GeekWire, "is endorsing Code.org as a coursework and teacher training provider for its upcoming AP Computer Science Principles course and will help Code.org fund the teacher training work required to establish new computer science classes." So what's the catch? "Schools that commit to using the [new] PSAT [8/9 assessment] to identify middle school students who have potential for success in computer science will be eligible to receive curriculum, training, and funding for programming classes." The organization is bankrolled by some of tech's wealthiest leaders and their corporations. Code.org board member Brad Smith, Microsoft's General Counsel, proposed the idea of "producing a crisis" to advance Microsoft's "two-pronged" National Talent Strategy to increase K-12 CS education and the number of H-1B visas. Just months thereafter, nonprofit organizations Code.org and Mark Zuckerberg's FWD.us, which is lobbying for H-1B reform, were born.

Comments

And?

[Anonymous Coward]

Am I supposed to be outraged at this? The summary seems to indicate so. I'm not seeing the issue. Code.org is doing a good job, and is much preferable to the alternative: which is nothing. Don't tell me the Department of Education should be doing this instead.

Re:And?

[Chrisq]

Am I supposed to be outraged at this? The summary seems to indicate so. I'm not seeing the issue. Code.org is doing a good job, and is much preferable to the alternative: which is nothing. Don't tell me the Department of Education should be doing this instead.

The way I read it we're supposed to be wary. It says that the organisations campaign for more H1B visas as well as funding these training schemes. I'm not sure of what we should be wary of in relation to these training courses - the organisations would be happy to employ US programmers as long as there are enough H1Bs to keep the wages suppressed.

Re:And?

[Anonymous Coward]

According to you. I'm not sure what you guys are upset about. Why is H-1B's even mentioned? The fact is that Code.org has a noble goal, and is executing it. Who else is going to help? The Department of Education? You?

I mean I get it: you don't like the H-1B program. But that has nothing to do with Code.org and the College Board working together. Get a grip.

I knew there was some liberal catch here

[NotDrWho]

Typical Silicon Valley liberal bullshit. From Code.org's website (bold added for emphasis)

The College Board and Code.org will encourage schools to offer the new PSAT 8/9 assessment as a way of identifying more students, particularly those from traditionally under-represented groups, for enrollment in these new courses.

So did you think this was going to mean some CS classes for you, poor little Appalachian white boy? Well TOUGH LUCK! That oppressed girl from Grosse Pointe beats you out again.