250+ CEOs Come Together to Support Computer Science and AI for Every Student

Code.org and CSforALL team up to launch Unlock8 to boost student success, close wage gaps, and prepare the next generation for a future shaped by AI

SEATTLE, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, more than 250 CEOs, including the leaders of American Airlines, Airbnb, Etsy, Indeed, Khan Academy, Microsoft, and Sweetgreen, have called upon state education leaders and policymakers to make computer science (CS) and AI education available for every student. The CEOs' open letter kicks off Unlock8, a national campaign led by Code.org and CSforALL to advocate for policy solutions that ensure every student has access to the foundational skills needed to succeed in a world enabled by AI.

Unlock8 is grounded in compelling new data from the University of Maryland that shows just one computer science course in high school can boost a graduate's early career earning by 8%, regardless of college plans or career path. This exposure is more critical than ever: the World Economic Forum's 2025 Future of Jobs report ranks AI and big data as the fastest growing skills in the workplace, with two thirds of employers planning to hire for specific AI expertise over the next five years.

"Computer science and AI unlock a doorway to skills K-12 students need to thrive in an economy that changes by the minute," said Cameron Wilson, President, Code.org. "Our schools need to ensure that every student is learning AI skills rooted in computer science education. That's why over 250 CEOs are supporting states that are making CS and AI coursework the norm."

Over the last decade, all 50 states have taken actions to expand access to computer science education: the number of states allocating funding for computer science education jumped from 9 in 2017 to 39 in 2024, and the share of high schools offering foundational courses has grown from 35% to 60%. However, only 12 states have implemented a graduation requirement and just 6.4% of high school students enrolled in a computer science course last school year. 

The 250+ CEOs that have signed on in support of making computer science and AI available for every student include:

• Satya Nadella | Microsoft
  CEO & CHAIR
  
  
• Shantanu Narayen | Adobe
  CEO & CHAIR
  
  
• Robert Isom | American Airlines
  CEO
  
  
• Dr. Lisa Su | AMD
  CEO & CHAIR 
   
• Brian Chesky | Airbnb
  CEO & CO-FOUNDER
  
  
• Josh Silverman | Etsy
  CEO 

• Hadi Partovi | Code.org
  CEO & FOUNDER

• Katy Knight | CSforALL
  CHAIR

• Reid Hoffman | LinkedIn
  CO-FOUNDER

• Jonathan Neman | Sweetgreen
  CEO & CO-FOUNDER 

• Chris Hyams | Indeed
  CEO

• Sal Khan | Khan Academy
  CEO & FOUNDER 

• Tony Xu | Doordash
  CEO & CO-FOUNDER
  
  
• Eric S. Yuan | Zoom
  CEO & FOUNDER
  
  
• Marc Benioff | Salesforce
  CEO, CHAIR & CO-FOUNDER

• Michael Dell | Dell Technologies
  CEO, CHAIR & FOUNDER 

• Dara Khosrowshahi | Uber Technology Inc.
  CEO 

• Alex Karp | Palantir
  CEO & CO-FOUNDER 

• David Risher | Lyft
  CEO

• David Limp | Blue Origin
  CEO

• Robert Smith | Vista Equity Partners
  CEO, CHAIR & FOUNDER 

• Susan Morris | Albertsons Co. Inc.
  CEO 
  
  
• Fidji Simo | Instacart
  CEO & CHAIR 
  
  
• Maria Klawe | Math For America
  PRESIDENT 
   
• Thomas Dohmke | GitHub
  CEO
  
  
• Drew Houston | Dropbox
  CEO & CO-FOUNDER
  
  
• Arvind Krishna | IBM
  CEO, CHAIR, PRESIDENT
  
  
• Brad Garlinghouse | Ripple
  CEO
  
  
• Ravi Kumar S | Cognizant
  CEO
  
  
• Max Levchin | Affirm
  CEO & CO-FOUNDER 
  
  
• James Lanzone | Yahoo!
  CEO
  
  
• Steve Ballmer | LA Clippers
  CHAIR

To learn more and join the movement, visit CSforAll.org/Unlock8

About Code.org
Code.org® is an education innovation nonprofit dedicated to the vision that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science and artificial intelligence as part of their core K-12 education. We expand access to and participation in computer science in schools, with a focus on increasing participation by young women and students from other underrepresented groups. The leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum in the largest school districts in the United States, Code.org also organizes the annual Hour of Code campaign, which has engaged more than 15% of all students in the world. Code.org is supported by generous donors including Microsoft, Amazon, Google and many others.

About CSforAll
CSforALL is the national hub of the computer science for all movement with a mission to make high-quality computer science an integral part of K-12 education in the United States. We connect providers, schools and districts, funders, and researchers working toward the goal of providing quality CS education to every child in the United States, and engage with diverse stakeholders leading computer science initiatives across the nation to support and facilitate implementation of rigorous, inclusive and sustainable computer science.

SOURCE Code.org