In a powerful display of youth leadership and civic engagement, Sweekriti Ratnam, a junior at Carlmont High School and the Secretary & Policy Committee Member of the National AI Youth Council, recently testified before the California State Assembly Standing Committee on Education in support of Assembly Bill 887 (AB 887).
Standing alongside Assemblymember Marc Berman, who authored the bill, Sweekriti delivered compelling testimony advocating for equal access to computer science education across California’s public high schools. Her voice added a vital youth perspective to the conversation:
“California has the country’s highest number of open computing jobs, and 91% of all California jobs are likely to require digital skills,” she explained. “This is why fostering digital literacy and computer education in our schools is so important to ensure job preparedness for all students.” – Sweekriti Ratnam, National AI Youth Council
AB 887 responds to a staggering digital divide in the state. Nearly half of California high schools don’t offer a single computer science course. Students in low-income, rural, and majority-Black and Latinx schools are the most likely to miss out. AB 887 proposes the California Computer Science Demonstration Grant Program, a new initiative aimed at funding computer science instruction in schools that currently don’t offer it. The pilot program will prioritize schools serving underrepresented students, helping bridge equity gaps in digital education and workforce access.
Sweekriti emphasized the real-world impact of such courses:
“I have seen the impact of computer science classes at my own high school, with many of my friends and peers learning important skills such as problem-solving and analytical thinking that they are able to apply in and outside the classroom.”
As a policy director at one of the nation’s largest youth-led organizations advocating for responsible AI, Sweekriti brought an informed, future-focused lens to her testimony. She reminded legislators that equitable access to computer science is not just a classroom issue but also a workforce issue and a civil rights issue.
AB 887 is a step toward ensuring every student in California, regardless of zip code or background, has access to foundational skills for a digitally connected world. Thanks to young leaders like Sweekriti, the student voice is finally being heard at the policymaking table.
National AI Youth Council 