This upcoming weekend, Minnesota teachers with an interest in computer science will gather online for the MNCodes Educator Summit. One of the speakers at the summit is Andrea Wilson Vazquez, who serves as the computer science specialist for the state Department of Education. Vazquez was hired last year as part of the legislature’s efforts to improve computer science education in Minnesota.
The need for this initiative is evident, as revealed in a report from the Code.org Advocacy Coalition, which ranked Minnesota last in the nation for high school students’ access to computer science courses. Only 28% of state high schools offered such courses, compared to about 57% nationally.
Recently, Vazquez discussed Minnesota’s plans to expand computer science course offerings with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer. The conversation can be heard using the audio player above. Listeners can also subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or other podcast platforms. Transcripts for Minnesota Now episodes are typically made available the next business day after a broadcast and appear on the MPR News website.
