Subject: Re: Computer science education — follow up from LinkedIn finance event
From: "Ann O'Leary" <[email-masked]>
To: Teddy Goff <[email-masked]>
Cc: Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>, Maya Harris <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>, Stephanie Hannon <[email-masked]>, Anna Soellner <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 10 May 2015 11:44:36 -0700

Thanks, all. This is great. I'm happy to engage with code.org on STEM
policy ideas and totally agree, Teddy, that we should continue to make a
big deal about need to solve this gender gap.

Ann O’Leary
Sent from my iPhone
(510) 717-5518 (cell)

On May 10, 2015, at 9:06 AM, Teddy Goff <[email-masked]> wrote:

Last year it was December. Hasn't been announced for this year but should
be around the same time.

On Sun, May 10, 2015 at 12:02 PM, Jake Sullivan <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> When is the hour of code?
>
>
>
> On May 10, 2015, at 11:59 AM, Teddy Goff <[email-masked]> wrote:
>
> Sure this won't come as a surprise to anyone, but would note that in my
> conversations with her, the Secretary has taken an especially strong
> interest in the issue of women in tech. I believe the share of women
> graduating from college with comp sci and related degrees has actually gone
> down over the past twenty years – she's said that around me a few times.
>
> And I would definitely be for participating in the hour of code as POTUS
> did last year. Steph, I think you can tell your contact at code.org that
> we'd be happy to discuss that a bit closer to the date.
>
> On Sun, May 10, 2015 at 8:44 AM, Maya Harris <[email-masked]>
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks, John and Stephanie. Think Ann has been leading in this area.
>> Otherwise, I'm happy to take on. Will circle back to confirm.
>>
>> On May 10, 2015, at 5:02 AM, John Podesta <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>> +Jake, Maya & Ann
>> Generally we should be for doing this. I think their argument that
>> computer science is more meaningful to people than STEM is strong, but STEM
>> has advocates too. Not sure who should take this forward in policy world,
>> but can you guys designate a lead.
>> On May 9, 2015 6:31 PM, "Stephanie Hannon" <[email-masked]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Teddy:
>>>
>>> The founders of code.org are eager to see Hillary make statements in
>>> support of computer science education and to have us participate in the
>>> hour of code. They put together some info below, include stats on jobs in
>>> our first four states.
>>>
>>> Can you advise me on if / how it would be appropriate to discuss /
>>> debate inside the campaign?
>>>
>>> I cc'ed John on this email since this was a hot topic at the Reid
>>> Hoffman / LinkedIn finance event and there was incredible support for Ali's
>>> request by the entrepreneurs / Silicon Valley leaders in the room. It seems
>>> worthwhile to have a response to these guys.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Steph
>>>
>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>> From: Hadi Partovi <[email-masked]>
>>> Date: Fri, May 8, 2015 at 6:23 PM
>>> Subject: Re: Computer Science: meet Hadi Partovi (Code.org)
>>> To: [email-masked], Stephanie Hannon <
>>> [email-masked]>, [email-masked]
>>>
>>>
>>> Stephanie, we were separately introduced by jocelyn goldfein. Manny, I
>>> didn't expect our paths to cross so quickly :)
>>>
>>> Just to expand on what Ali wrote.  There are *currently 600,000 open
>>> jobs* in this field, across every state. There are more jobs than
>>> graduates in almost every congressional district.
>>>
>>> One easy way for Hillary to engage is to work with us around the Hour of
>>> Code campaign. Last year President Obama hosted an Hour of Code at the
>>> White House <https://youtu.be/AI_dayIQWV4>. This year we have some
>>> really big plans involved, with a special focus on women in computer
>>> science, which would be a perfect fit for Hillary's involvement.
>>>
>>> That said, I believe this is a broadly bi-partisan, popular issue that
>>> could call for MUCH more than just a marketing stunt. There's opportunity
>>> for a bipartisan sputnik-moment call to action that the whole country can
>>> get behind.
>>>
>>> One thing to consider, *Any* time Hillary says "STEM", if she instead
>>> said "Computer science" she'd have more voters understand and support her.
>>>
>>> Of course, STEM is *critically important* to our country. However, STEM
>>> is not where the job growth is or where the gender disparity is
>>> <http://blog.code.org/post/89267280803/stem>. STEM is also not where
>>> the H1B skilled immigration problem is
>>> <http://blog.code.org/post/116568172243/with-all-the-national-debate-on-immigration-i>
>>> .
>>>
>>> And finally, for winning an election, "STEM" is not what voters react
>>> to.  Below are some simple poll results we got from a 18+ US audience:
>>>
>>> *Do you know what STEM education means? *
>>> 77% NO
>>> 23% YES
>>>
>>> *Do you know what "computer science" means?*
>>> 69% YES
>>> 31% NO
>>>
>>> *Is STEM education important? *
>>> 44% I'm not sure what that is
>>> 34% YES
>>> 22% NO
>>>
>>> *Is computer science education important? *
>>> 69% YES
>>> 18% NO
>>> 13% I'm not sure what that is
>>>
>>>
>>> This is a very bi-partisan topic. Republicans strongly support computer
>>> science, and with the growing threat of cybercrime it's increasingly \ an
>>> issue of national security.
>>>
>>> Aside from the story of the Arkansas governor who won a campaign on
>>> computer science, we've had 16 states pass legislation or policy changes
>>> for computer science, almost always with near-unanimous votes of support.
>>> In Washington state, 91% of the population answered "Yes" on a poll asking
>>> if it's important to expand access to computer science. Many other states
>>> have similar levels of support.
>>>
>>> I'd love to work with the Clinton campaign to help sharpen a focus on
>>> this issue. Even if it's just participation in a marketing gimmick around
>>> the Hour of Code.
>>>
>>> hadi partovi
>>>
>>> On Fri, May 8, 2015 at 9:48 AM, Ali Partovi <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Manny, Lindsey, & Stephanie,
>>>> (cc: Hadi Partovi, Reid Hoffman)
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the "town hall" at LinkedIn. I'm the guy who spoke up about
>>>> Computer Science education.
>>>>
>>>> I've been giving Stephanie an earful, with powerful stats to back it
>>>> up. I'm copying the rest of you to intro Hadi Partovi of Code.org and
>>>> to emphasize that this is *not* about "technology" or "Silicon Valley."
>>>>
>>>> *Computer Science is about jobs and equity in every state in America,
>>>> and it wins elections. *
>>>>
>>>> There are 5,000 open computing jobs in Iowa; 2,000 in New Hampshire;
>>>> 4,000 in South Carolina; 3,000 in Nevada. Like every state in the union,
>>>> their economies desperately need more Computer Science. This is an historic
>>>> opportunity to lift up an entire generation of young Americans, a chance to
>>>> level the playing field and rebuild the American Dream.
>>>>
>>>> Computer Science is real and resonates with voters (far more than
>>>> "STEM"). Computer Science helped win the recent election in Arkansas for
>>>> Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R). Whichever candidate embraces it first will be seen
>>>> as a visionary leader when it comes to about jobs, economic growth, and
>>>> America's future.
>>>>
>>>> The world's best champion for this topic is Hadi Partovi, my twin
>>>> brother and co-founder of Code.org. Under his leadership, Code.org has
>>>> helped reform education standards in 18 states, has partnered with
>>>> America's largest school districts to train 25,000 teachers, and has built
>>>> an enormous movement around the "Hour of Code," touching 100 million
>>>> students worldwide.
>>>>
>>>> Ali
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>