Nearly half a dozen tech giants have pledged a combined $300 million to help develop K-12 computer science programs over the next five years, as part of a White House initiative led by first daughter Ivanka Trump.
Trump is expected to formally announce the investment during an event in Detroit on Tuesday, where she will gather with community leaders who have emphasized the importance of making technical training available to those seeking jobs in computer science or engineering.
The total contribution of $300 million is being funded by a Washington-based lobby group called the Internet Association, along with Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Salesforce, which have each committed $50 million. General Motors, Quicken Loans, Lockheed Martin, Accenture, and the online schooling company Pluralsight each committed money as well, according to a press release.
“The Trump administration is committed to aligning the skills being taught to our students with the jobs being created in the economy of the future,” Trump said Tuesday.
“Given the growing role of technology across all sectors of America[n] industry, it is vital that our students become fluent in coding and computer science and the decisive actions of the Administration and the private sector this week represent a giant leap forward in this direction.”
The multi-million dollar private sector investment comes one day after President Trump signed a memorandum directing $200 million to the Department of Education for the purpose of introducing computer science curriculums in schools across the U.S. beginning next year.
“It is essential that the public and private sectors work together to ensure all American students have the opportunity to learn computer science and take part in the fastest growing sector of our economy,” Internet Association chief executive Michael Beckerman said in a statement Tuesday.
