Kids Code Mississippi partnered with the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), an app competition for students in high school and below, to promote awareness and participation for the 2017 event in Mississippi.
The CAC was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation, and that the U.S. has been falling behind on these fronts. By some estimates, the U.S. may be short as many as a million programmers by 2020. These are high-paying, high-demand jobs. To maintain American competitiveness, it’s crucial that the United States invests in our youth now, and helps them acquire these valuable skills. The CAC encourages students to pursue those skills and recognizes them for their efforts.
After only one Mississippi entry in 2016, the CAC and Kids Code Mississippi were able to enlist participation in three of Mississippi’s four congressional districts. More than one hundred Mississippi students participated.