Advanced placement computer classes are now getting Math or Science credit in Washington state.

New York Times (05/15/13) Nick Wingfield 

Washington recently became the latest state to pass a law granting academic course credit in math or science to students who take advanced placement computer science classes. Technology companies and nonprofit groups were pushing hard for the law because they see stimulating student interest in computer science as the main long-term solution to a shortage of engineers in the technology industry. Now the groups are likely to focus on other states, such as California, that still treat computer science as an elective. "In California, it’s in the same bucket as horseshoe-making,” notes Code.org founder Hadi Partovi. "You can get as many credits for learning to put shoes on hooves as for making iPhone apps." The states that have previously allowed students to receive academic credit for computer science include Georgia, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia. However, computer science is not even offered in many schools around the country. Microsoft is trying to help improve access to computer science classes by training its own engineers and those from other companies to help teach courses in classrooms.

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