Tons of of tech, enterprise and nonprofit leaders urge states to spice up laptop science schooling

More than 500 business, education and nonprofit leaders have teamed with Seattle-based computer education nonprofit Code.org to issue a call to state governments and education leaders to bring more computer science opportunities to K-12 students across the U.S.

The leaders of tech giants including Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Alphabet and others joined with CEOs from such companies as Nike, UPS, AT&T, Walgreens, T-Mobile, Zillow Group, Expedia Group and more in signing a letter urging action.

“At a time when every industry is impacted by digital technology, our schools should teach every student how technology works, to learn to be creators, not just consumers,” the letter states. “Instead, this basic skill is taught only to the lucky few, leaving most students behind, especially young women and students of color.”

Those who signed on have committed to creating employment opportunities for computer science students in every American city and in every sector, Code.org said in a news release.

“Today, computer science should be a core subject, just like basic biology or algebra,” Code.org CEO Hadi Partovi said in a statement. “The United States has seen tremendous momentum behind this idea, and today’s announcement makes it clear that the time for action is now.”

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was among those who signed and on Tuesday he tweeted about how computer science “changed the course” of his life starting at age 13.

Others signatories include a who’s who of tech and business leaders, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; Amazon CEO Andy Jassy; Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella; Microsoft President Brad Smith; LA Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer; Apple CEO Tim Cook; Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai; Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg; Zillow Group CEO Rich Barton; T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert; YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki; and more.

Code.org was founded in 2013 by twin brothers Hadi and Ali Partovi.