Gov. Asa Hutchinson recently named Carl Frank, a computer science instructor at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, to the Computer Science Task Force.
The purpose of the task force will be to research and recommend computer science and technology standards; study the computer science and technology needs of the state; and recommend strategies to meet the anticipated computer science and technology workforce needs of the state.
Improving computer science education throughout Arkansas’ school systems was one of Hutchinson’s core campaign focuses on the election trail last year. The Arkansas Legislature passed a bill in February requiring all public and charter high schools to offer computer science courses beginning in the 2015-16 school year.
“This is critical in making sure the computer-science initiative we’ve started in Arkansas continues to advance and lead the nation,” Hutchinson said in a press release. “Members of this task force will guide the initiative and provide a plan to motivate and assist teachers and schools around the state.”
Frank said the task force will play an important role in guiding the direction of computer science education in Arkansas not just in the near future but long term as well.
“I think the task force will need to have a measured, thoughtful blueprint for Arkansas moving forward,” he said. “STEM technology, and computer science in particular, is going to of great importance for the economic engine of Arkansas. Right now, many of our students who do pursue a computer science education are leaving the state. If you view this in the long game, we’re going to reshape Arkansas by providing additional opportunities where they’ll benefit even if they don’t major in computer science if college bound.”
Frank is one of 15 members of the task force, including Gary Dowdy of Hot Springs, who is the president of Arkansas Academy of Computing, an organization dedicated to advance computing and information technology statewide. Frank is also a member of that organization.
Frank serves as president of the Arkansas chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association and is a member of the Glen Rose School Board. He also serves on the national Computer Science Advocacy Leadership Team. Members of that team have been working to improve K-12 computer science education in their home states.
Frank said it’s encouraging to see those efforts as well as those of many other individuals and organizations who support computer science education in Arkansas beginning to have an effect.
“It’s a great feeling, but what’s weird is that things moved [very] slow until now,” Frank said. “The governor campaigned on this, and he’s making that promise a reality. It seems to have picked up a life of it’s own. There have been other advocates — Arkansas STEM Coalition, the Arkansas Academy of Computing. We had the first computer science education leadership summit last year. They were all trying to do the same thing and were beginning to come together to make this happen. It’s picked up a critical mass now.
“It’s kinda like an avalanche. There’s a lot to do before August.”