There are more than 3,400 open jobs in computer science fields in Kentucky today and these jobs pay an average of $77,000 a year, almost $20,000 higher than the overall average annual income. Computer science careers, including data systems engineers, web developers, information security analysts, information technology analysts, and software developers, offer incredible opportunities, but only if we have students prepared for the career paths.
Meeting the growing needs of this job sector is crucial for economic growth and innovation as a state, and critical as we work to help Kentucky students find career paths that allow them to build successful, fulfilling lives. Ensuring a steady supply of talent in these areas enhances competitiveness, drives advancements in automation and AI, and addresses critical challenges like data privacy and infrastructure security. By investing in innovative approaches, we can bridge the skills gap and prepare a workforce capable of thriving in computer science careers. And, we can do so by reaching students across the state, in rural, urban, and suburban Kentucky communities.
Earlier this year, we passed one of the strongest, most responsible budgets in state history. It included record funding for education, historic investments aimed at improving quality of life, and addressed our public pension liabilities while providing support for law enforcement, vulnerable Kentuckians, and programs that we all depend on. The budget also allocated $3 million towards the creation of a statewide virtual computer science career academy, We Lead CS. This program is a first, not only here in the Commonwealth but across the nation.
We Lead CS offers high school students an opportunity to jumpstart a career in computer science and a chance to get real workforce experience with employers. And, students learn online from their schools with live instruction and support. That means students in any community can participate, regardless of whether they live in a rural community in Eastern or Western Kentucky, suburban Fayette County, or in downtown Louisville.
We Lead CS is based on the successful foundation created by the iLEAD Academy, a unique regional school that provides high school students with an innovative, STEM-focused education designed to prepare them for careers in advanced technology fields. Launched in 2015, the academy serves several rural school districts and allows students to take college-level courses while still in high school, helping them earn credits toward both a high school diploma and an associate degree. The academy has proven itself incredibly successful and received national attention for its work.
Officials from the We Lead CS and industry supporters presented an update on the funding to members of the Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment on September 26. According to testimony, the program is ready to launch two major initiatives aimed at expanding access to learning and identifying local partners and specific skills that employers anticipate will be needed in the workforce moving forward.
We Lead CS launched student recruitment for the 2025-2026 school year on October 1 with a bold goal of enrolling 300 additional students, so it is a good time to learn more. You can ask your school guidance counselor or administrators for more information, or visit weleadcs.org if your school district is not already participating in the program.
In addition to providing additional slots, the We Lead CS program is also offering microgrants to local chambers of commerce who help identify which local employers are hiring computer science talent, what skills they are looking for, and how those employers can engage with We Lead CS students. If you are interested, We Lead CS offers a webinar and more information on the organization’s website.
Applications are due by November 15.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Amy.Neighbors@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
(Laura Leigh Goins, Deputy Chief of Staff for Media Relations – House Majority Leadership)