News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

Michigan one of 7 states selected for pilot program in computer science

Computer keyboard by newfilm.dk is licensed with CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Advanced Placement Computer Science courses are expanding in Michigan. That’s after the state was selected to be part of a $15 million-dollar pilot program.

Michigan is expanding AP computer science in high schools to increase the number of underrepresented students in the STEM field.

The initiative, from Code.org, is using a curriculum geared toward Black, Latino and Native American students.

Larry Wyn, the MI Stem Network Computer Science Program Manager says the agenda will put students of color at the forefront.

“if I have a math problem about bussing, but I’m talking to a rural student, they have no idea or background behind that, so when we think about the cultural background, we want to make sure the information is accessible”

Michigan is one of seven states involved in the pilot program.