Microsoft is making it clear that they are behind computer science in education and they’re letting their corporate wallet do the talking. Microsoft has agreed to add $75 million dollars in toward the investment of computer science in K-12 classrooms.

The money will be used to “expand grants and programs to improve access to computer science education and build computational thinking skills for underserved youth over the next three years,” according to Inside Philanthropy.

K-12 education has faced plenty of changes over the last decade or so, from Common Core to increased STEM curriculum. Microsoft is trying to invest in the future of education, which revolves around technology and fostering creative thinking. Creative thinking that will lead to innovative solutions to modern day issues.

“The Microsoft announcement comes on the heels of growing concern over the inability of traditional K-12 education models to keep up with an increasingly digital world,” according to the report.

“Last week, we told you about a new education policy think tank, the Learning Institute, which is developing national strategies to adapt K-12 education to our ever-evolving knowledge-based society.”

It’s similar to the movement that New York City schools are seeing when it comes to increased computer science courses in the elementary, middle and high school grade levels. However, technology is very expensive and not all districts or states have the proper funding. That’s where money like the offering from Microsoft comes in handy. It takes a load off of school administrations and allows them to concentrate on what tools they want for their classroom, rather than how much they will cost and trying to find inexpensive shortcuts.

“For its part, Microsoft has zeroed in on a few specific areas where it believes it can help modernize K-12 education in the U.S., including its TEALS program—short for Technology Education and Literacy in Schools,” according to the article.

“TEALS pairs tech professionals with educators to team-teach computer science in U.S. high schools. With this new funding, Microsoft hopes to grow TEALS fivefold, with the goal of reaching 30,000 students in 700 schools across 33 states.”

With enough funding to go around it’s possible that schools nationwide could see the effects of Microsoft's investment.

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Article by Navindra Persaud, Education World Contributor