Officials said they plan to expand a program that uses VR technology from Transfr and reach another 4,500 students this year.

A new multidisciplinary group is tasked with giving students "the best computer science education possible.”

With the goal of expanding the availability of computer science programs in the state, up to $10,000 will be awarded to computer science teachers.

Arkansas' Ray Girdler tells EdScoop that getting teachers and administrators involved in his state's voluntary training program takes finesse.

The state reports a more than 600 percent increase of high school computer science teachers within the last three years.

The state expects to achieve its long-term goal of installing a high-speed broadband connection in all schools by the beginning of the fall semester.