WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Washington STEM investments hitting the field

Laura Flerkenstein's Physics class at Yelm High School in Yelm, Washington.What does it mean when an elected official says they want to invest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education? A recent partnership between Washington state and Microsoft is a perfect example of words turned into action.

Microsoft, the Redmond-based software giant and one of the largest employers in the state, runs an IT Academy to train students in computer programming. Courses are focused on jobs-ready skills and cover topics ranging from basic Web navigation to advanced programming and database development.

Until yesterday the IT Academy was just a partnership with high schools, but Microsoft just announced that they will begin making courses available online at more than 380 public, community college, technical college, and tribal libraries across Washington state.

This expansion was made possible by a $1.5 million investment that the legislature made during the 2013 legislative session. It’s just one example House Democrat’s commitment to investing in STEM education for Washingtonians.

The new IT Academy offerings will provide thousands of Washington residents the opportunity to develop skills and certifications for a variety of different careers, while helping STEM industry companies like Microsoft recruit employees locally. It’s a win for our economy, but more importantly it’s a hand up for all those who are still struggling to find a job after the recession.