Google is making significant investments in the greater Los Angeles area to support equitable access to STEM education. They have three campuses and thousands of employees locally and are committed to building sustainable equity, creating economic opportunity, and improving education in the cities and communities where they live and work. There is abundant opportunity in the area, but due to structural inequalities, access to those opportunities is not equally available to all. For example, schools serving high proportions of Black, Indigenous, Latino/Hispanic, and Pacific Islander students are less likely to have access to computer science compared to schools serving a greater proportion of white and Asian students.

Google is working to address this gap and increase access to computer science education. They are partnering with the education community to ensure every student receives the same opportunity to succeed in STEM fields. Here are four ways Google is working to provide equitable computer science education opportunities for learners of all ages in the greater Los Angeles area.

Firstly, in 2024, Google will open an after-school Code Next Lab for high schoolers in Inglewood, California, where 9 in 10 individuals identify as Black and/or Latinx. This free, immersive computer science education program is designed to develop the next generation of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous tech leaders. Google will be designing, building, and opening the new facility to provide more access to computer science skills for high schoolers in the area.

Additionally, Google is expanding its Computer Science for High School program, which provides over 200 high schools in Los Angeles County with the resources and support they need to offer rigorous, inclusive, and creative computer science courses. The program aims to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who have access to computer science education.

Google is also working to provide more access to computer science skills for younger learners. They are launching the Computer Science First program in the Lennox School District, which will provide curriculum and professional development support for educators to teach computer science to students in elementary and middle school.

Furthermore, Google is providing support for educators in the greater Los Angeles area to help them create equitable computer science learning environments. They are providing professional development opportunities for teachers, hosting professional learning workshops, and creating resources for educators to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn computer science.

In conclusion, Google’s investments in the greater Los Angeles area are focused on providing equitable access to STEM education, particularly in the field of computer science. By opening after-school labs, expanding programs in high schools, and providing support for younger learners and educators, Google is working to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in STEM fields. Their efforts aim to address the gap in access to computer science education and create a more equitable educational environment for learners of all ages in the area.