Abstract:
There has been a lot of attention in recent years on increasing diversity in the computer science field. Schools play in large role in creasing access to fields like computer science by making supplies and knowledge available to all students. Indiana has recently implemented new standards in public schools requiring computer science to be included in the K-89 curriculum and at least one computer science course to be offered in high schools. With the increase in required participation in computer science by all students, my assumption was that diversity would increase in higher level education. Standardized testing that includes computer science data is not available at the K-8 level, but data from AP exams and enrollment in Ball State University's Computer Science Department were used to examine diversity levels. Analysis of the data revealed that the standards were implemented recently enough that the data would not reflect any significant impact from them. Results from this study suggest that the data from the upcoming years will provide more information about whether the new standards for computer science curriculum in Indiana have increased the diversity percentages in Indiana schools.
