Quite simply, there are not enough qualified Californians to fill all the jobs the high-tech industry is creating. Computers in the classroom are a critical component. The Digital High Schools program works. We ve advocated expanding it to grades 4-8 for several years. That gives kids who don t have a computer in the home a chance to have access.
Training is key.
We will also support efforts to keep libraries and community centers open longer hours, so people have a chance to use them. Community centers are also key. Giving a computer novice a Pentium isn t going to get them online. They need training, support and mentoring. Our companies donate a lot of technology, and they have seen brand new computers left in the boxes because no one knew how to use them.