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.
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.
March 21, 2014 @ 8:44 am
Without qualified candidates, companies can’t establish businesses here, and without good paying jobs, qualified candidates won’t stay (or relocate) here, no matter how much they may want to. This is a classic ‘chicken and egg’ situation.
If UM and MSU continue to pump out computer science grads that may start to build up a local talent pool, but there have to be good paying jobs or most of those people will head to Silicon Valley where there are start-ups, as well as large high-tech companies, desperate to hire new grads and willing to pay a lot more than here.
We need a Google, Microsoft or HP to invest here in order to create enough of a demand to draw people from overcrowded, high cost-of-living states such as California. I work remotely in MT for a high tech CA company so I can enjoy living here while continuing to pursue my passion. I also run two low tech, home-based businesses, mostly for fun.
There has to be a critical mass of people, with the right technical skills, in order to attract large high tech companies willing to invest here for the long haul, or there have to be financial incentives, such as generous tax breaks, to draw start-ups here.
HP opened campuses in Idaho and Colorado because the communities there were large enough to support their growing businesses. I don’t think we are quite there in MT, although within the next 10 years we could be if we play our cards right.
March 21, 2014 @ 9:01 am
This is a tremendous program for our kids. Greg, I work with group homes in Montana and I was wondering if there are any ideas on how to take kids who love video games and turn it into a way for them to get involved in programming. This is obviously tricky but these kids come from a background of little or no opportunity and one of our biggest obstacles is building up the kids confidence and helping them create opportunity scaled to their learning abilities.
March 25, 2014 @ 8:03 am
CodeMontana.org is is open to all Montana high school kids free of charge. Just sign up at the web site. We are looking to see if it might be possible to extend the program to middle school students as well. Stay tuned.
March 25, 2014 @ 9:43 pm
Greg, this is very good in so many ways. Not only for our young people, but also for the positive ripple effect across Montana caused by the increase in quality jobs and careers. This is the kind of innovation our state desperately needs!
February 14, 2016 @ 8:09 am
Good writing, Greg. I look fwroard to reading your work. Perhaps one day, you would do me the favor of reading mine. Happy Birthday on the 17th. God bless you. With love, gd