The Georgia Department of Education recently announced that Ben Hill County Schools will receive a $25,000 grant to fund three new middle school computer coding courses.

“The fields of computer science and information technology are some of the fastest growing in our state and those in the most need of qualified, skilled workers,” said Sen. Tyler Harper (R – Ocilla). “By allowing middle school students the opportunity to be exposed to these high-demand industries, they will be ahead of the curve by the time they enter high school. It is especially important for rural areas, like Ben Hill County, to have access to training programs like these so that we can continue to produce graduates equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in 21^st century careers. I am thankful to the Georgia Department of Education for recognizing the need in Ben Hill County and I look forward to witnessing the positive impact this will have in our community.”

Ben Hill County was one of 17 school districts in Georgia who received a combined $500,000 provided by the Georgia Department of Education for middle school coding courses. The three new coding courses include Foundations of Secure Information Systems, Foundations of Computer Programming and Foundations of Interactive Design. The funds were allocated specifically for rural and underserved parts of the state and will address equipment, training and the development of a curriculum.