Microsoft Philanthropies expands TEALS program, helps volunteers teach computer science in high schools

Microsoft Philanthropies today announced an expansion of the Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program. In the upcoming school year, the program will see an addition of 100 schools in the US, a total of 1,100 new volunteers, all aimed at paring technology professionals with educators to teach computer science in high school classrooms.

According to Microsoft, since estimates show 350,000 manufacturing jobs are unfilled, top manufacturing regions in the US will benefit from the program, including Wisconsin, Ohio and North Carolina. The new schools added to the program also include five schools in the Detroit area. With the focus on preparing classroom teachers to teach computer science and AP computer science, curriculums for TEALS  are developed in conjunction with the UC Berkeley and the University of Washington computer science departments.

Mary Snapp, corporate vice president and head of Microsoft Philanthropies explains.

“As industries evolve, we should prepare young people with the skills they need…Half a million jobs that require computing skills are unfilled in the United States, with openings in every industry and in every state. Yet most high schools do not teach computer science. Volunteers from Microsoft and more than 300 other companies are working to fill that gap, in partnership with teachers, through TEALS.”

The expansion is possible thanks to new partnerships Microsoft formed with schools, businesses, government leaders, and nonprofit organizations. If you have a background in computer science and programming, and you would like your community, you can head to this website to learn more and to apply to the TEALS program.