Rural Up! program teaching computer technology job skills to students in Eastern Kentucky

A program in Eastern Kentucky—which includes some of the nation's poorest counties—is working to help improve educational opportunities and job prospects for local youth by teaching them the skills to get jobs in computer technology.

Rural Up! photo

The Rural Up! Code Academy has been traveling across the region to work with middle school and high school students to give "them the information and resources needed for success in computer coding," says the organization's website.

Estimates say that by 2020 there will be 1.4 new computer science jobs, but only 30 percent of those jobs will be filled by U.S. graduates, Rural Up! says. "Right now, according to Code.org, nine out 10 high schools in the U.S. do not offer computer science classes." In Kentucky only 19 high schools—out of more than 100—currently offer AP computer science, and only 13 percent of students in those courses are female.

Code Demo Days are scheduled for Saturday at Pulaski County High School, the Roy F. Collier Community Center, Eastern Kentucky University-Manchester and University of Pikeville. Another session will be held on Dec. 13 at Ashland Community and Technical College. (Read more)