Bob Lenz of Envision Schools (a grantee of our Education Program), in an op ed in the San Jose Mercury News, on the “false choice” between skills and college readiness for high school students:
Learning to code is cool, but I fear we will be in an either-or situation: learn code or learn academics. Schools like the ones in the High Tech High Network prove that students can apply and demonstrate their understanding of academic topics through project-based learning. Young people in these schools are creating applications and interactive websites that utilize significant academic content, require coding skills and have real-world applicability.
These kids will have more options: 4-year college or a technical career will be their decision, not one made for them because they were channeled into a single-focus program.
