U.S. Senator Roy Blunt announces grant award to help improve computer science programs in rural areas.

U.S Senator Roy Blunt announced today that the Department of Education has awarded a near $4 million grant to Missouri State University to expand and improve computer science education programs in grades 3-8 at schools in rural areas.

From Missouri US Senator Blunt’s Office, “Computer science is increasingly becoming a foundational part of a student’s education, but too few students, especially in rural areas, have access to high-quality computer science education,” said Blunt. “This program will provide the tools, curriculum, and technology to support 150 teachers and 13,500 students in rural areas, while building the evidence-base of what works in order to expand computer science education opportunities for rural students more broadly. This project will not only teach important STEM skills but inspire young minds.”

“This grant will enable our faculty members to share computer science expertise and resources with communities in southern Missouri that need them the most,” said MSU President Clif Smart. “We want to get young students excited about computer science through hands-on learning, so they can envision the possibilities of a STEM-related career.”