CodeMontana.org, the free program to encourage Montana high school students to study computer science, is starting to have an effect.  Since the program’s inception in September 2013, more than 1,100 Montana high school students have completed more than 40,000 computer science exercises.  Schools are beginning to bring computer science into the classroom and kids are getting excited about pursuing degrees in computer science at college.

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One of the most recent signs that the program is making a difference is that MontanaTech in Butte has seen their applications for enrollment in Computer Science for the Fall of 2014 increase 3x over last year!

A starting salary for a college graduate with a computer science degree in Montana is $45K – $75K.  I know because my son got two such offers when he graduated from MSU in December 2013.  As a result, he continues to live (and now work) where he wants to, in Bozeman.

By preparing our young people for the high-paying jobs that already exist here in Montana, and even equipping them to create some of their own in the future, maybe less of us will have to travel out-of-state to see our grandkids.  We can fix the Montana wage problem.