PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Governor Raimondo announced an ambitious new initiative Monday to introduce computer science classes to every school in Rhode Island by December 2017.

Rhode Island is one of only a handful of states to embrace such an undertaking statewide. If successful, it would catapult Rhode Island into the front ranks of states that are committed not only to building a computer-savvy workplace but also to attracting industries that rely on such training.

"I applaud Governor Raimondo and Rhode Island for putting in place one of the most comprehensive initiatives in this country," acting U.S. Education Secretary John B. King Jr. said in a conference call. "We've asked Congress to empower states with the resources they need ... including $100 million to districts to increase access to computer science for all students."

Raimondo made her announcement at Tolman High School Monday before a crowd of more than 500 people, including educators, mayors, business leaders, students and members of congressional delegation.

"The next Zuckerberg could be right here," she said, in reference to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. "That's what today is all about. By 2017, every school will have access to computer skills. That means girls. It means students of color. We're breaking down barriers."

What's good for graduates is also good for the economy, Raimondo said: "Businesses want to be in places where there is a deep talent pool."

The initiative, called Computer Science for Rhode Island, relies heavily on philanthropic efforts and a serious commitment from the local business community, which will provide the dozens of volunteers needed to train teachers in the schools. Raimondo will also tackle the computer skills gap by training students enrolled in the state's biggest teacher preparation program at Rhode Island College.

Microsoft will provide a team of computer science experts to team-teach with Rhode Island instructors for two years. This training program began with a single Microsoft computer engineer in Seattle seven years ago and has since grown to include 160 volunteers in 18 states.

"Computer skills are thinking skills," said Mary Snapp, Microsoft's vice president of philanthropy. "Everyone needs an analytic framework that you can apply whether you're a lawyer or a builder."

The United States is facing a huge technology gap: there are 600,000 job openings in computer science but only 50,000 computer science graduates each year. By 2022, Rhode Island projects more than 4,000 jobs will be open in this field, yet only 42 public high school students took the Advanced Placement course in computer science last year and of those students, only 26 passed.

Code.org, a national nonprofit, will offer teacher training and a computer science curriculum for grades kindergarten through five at no cost to the districts. The organization has already trained 25,000 teachers in computer science across the country.

Code.org's chief operating officer, Cameron Wilson, said computer science training is one of the most important civil rights issues in public education. Young women who have taken AP computer courses are 10 times more likely to major in computer science and minority students are seven times more likely to do so, Wilson said.

Schools can choose from a menu of courses offered by Microsoft, Code.org, Brown University and the University of Rhode Island, among others. In additional, General Assembly, which offers computer science training to industry, will help develop a summer boot camp for teachers that will open this year.

Students in the teaching pipeline will also have the opportunity to receive training so Rhode Island "isn't always playing a game of catch-up," according to Richard Culatta, Raimondo's Chief Innovation Officer.

Still, the governor's budget only includes $260,000 to support this effort. Instead of public dollars, Raimondo's plan relies on Rhode Island's business community. Raimondo said yesterday that she is convinced local leaders are up to the task, noting that the insurance giant, Amica, has already pledged its support.

"We have been meeting with members of the business community, and we have already seen an incredible response," Culatta said. "To a person, they have raised their hands and said, 'We want to help.'"

State officials said the state's two teachers' unions are also on board. On Monday, Frank Flynn, president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Allied Health Professionals, called the technology initiative "a great idea" and said his union is "100 percent behind it."

-lborg@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7823

On Twitter: @lborgprojocom

On Twitter: Responses to 'CS4RI,' Gov. Raimondo's computer science initiative

[<a href="//storify.com/projo/raimondo-s-cs4ri-goal-computer-science-taught-in-e" target="_blank">View the story "On Twitter: Responses to 'CS4RI,' Gov. Raimondo's computer science initiative " on Storify</a>]