News — CHICAGO -- is announcing the release of a groundbreaking, comprehensive report that illustrates the critical gap between the skills students are currently learning and those required in today’s data-driven world. In "State of The Field: Data Science and Data Literacy Education in US K-12," DS4E highlights the urgent need for data literacy education in the United States’ K-12 education system.
“Since the term ‘new oil’ was coined in 2006, data has deeply integrated into every facet of our lives, influencing decisions at home and skills in the workplace, “ said DS4E Executive Director Zarek Drozda. “Despite the significant rise in the need for data literacy, the US K–12 education system struggles to keep up, further widening the gap in foundational skills crucial for our data-driven future.”
Key Findings:
- Data Science as an Emerging Field: While it has become prominent in universities globally, it remains nascent in US K–12 education. Early learning in data science fundamentals is crucial for all students.
- Development of Learning Progressions: Data Science 4 Everyone is developing the first K–12 data science learning progressions, which will bridge state education standards with classroom lessons and be released in February 2025.
- Policy-Driven Implementation: The introduction of data science in classrooms varies by state. Data Science 4 Everyone tracks implementation through course catalogs, pilots, sequences, teacher development, and state adoption of learning standards.
Statistics:
- Enrollment: During the 2023–2024 school year, at least 139,089 students enrolled in data science courses or modules.
- Implementation: Over 277 schools across 104 districts offered data science education.
- Teacher Development: Over 71,000 total hours of professional development were provided to at least 2,571 K–12 educators.
The clear path forward, as outlined in the report, is a national commitment to comprehensive data science education. This report is a crucial step toward inspiring action across all education levels, government, and industry to ensure every student in the US has access to data science and data literacy education.
Ensuring equitable access to data science education is vital for higher education opportunities, lucrative careers, vibrant communities, and a thriving democracy. As new tools and technologies emerge, data literacy becomes increasingly essential. This report is a call for comprehensive action to build a data-literate society prepared to engage critically with data.
For more detailed insights and actionable recommendations, read the full "State of The Field: Data Science and Data Literacy Education in US K-12" report available here.
About Data Science for Everyone
is a coalition advancing data science education so that every K-12 student is equipped with the data literacy skills needed to succeed in our modern world. Equitable access to data science education is an opportunity to open doors to higher education, high-paying careers, and an engaged community. Created by the and organized in partnership with and the , we support a growing community that knows that the data revolution has transformed modern life and we need to prepare our students.
RSS