NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical School has earned a First College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award.
The school was notified of the award last month it was being recognized for the high female representation in AP Computer Science Courses.
"We really weren't expecting this. It just happened organically that we had the right female enrollment and female success in that program," Principal Justin Kratz said on Thursday. "So we're very pleased to hear about it ... and we are very proud."
Eligible schools must have either 50 percent or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science students that meet or exceed that of the schools female population.
"By inviting many more young women to advanced computer science classrooms, McCann
Tech has taken a significant step toward preparing all students for the widest range of 21st-century opportunities," said Trevor Packer, College Board senior vice president of the AP Program in the state announcing the award. "We hope this inspires many other high schools to engage more female students in AP Computer Science and prepare them to drive innovation."
Only 490 schools out some 18,000 worldwide earned the award for AP Computer Science Principles. Kratz said he didn't realize how ahead of the curve McCann was.
"That is the culture of our building and we really push all of our students to explore whatever interests they have," he said. "We want to give our students as many opportunities to find out what they're most interested in and where their passions lie.
AP Computer Science Principles has promoted the growth of AP computer science in high
schools. Participation had increased 135 percent since 2016 and the number of female, rural, and underrepresented minority students taking AP computer science exams has more than doubled in that period.
The goal is to encourage gender-parity science, technology, engineering and math and create a pathway to high-paying jobs, innovation and competition. The AP Board cites UNESCO's Institute of Statistics data that show less than 30 percent of the world's researchers are women; in North America and Western Europe, it's just 32 percent. Women are more likely to pursue computer science if they're given the opportunity to explore it in high school, according to research.
Kratz said the recognition gives the school more clout and shows incoming students that McCann encourages students to study whatever they want.
"It breaks down those barriers because these careers are not just for men," he said. "We have women in these programs, and they've done really well. So I think it helps us with our future enrollment...We don't pigeonhole any of our kids into certain areas."
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MassDOT Warns of Toll-fee Smishing Scam
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was alerted that a text message-based scam, also known as smishing, is fraudulently claiming to represent tolling agencies from across the country. The scammers are claiming to represent the tolling agency and requesting payment for unpaid tolls.
The targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not uniquely associated with an account or usage of toll roads.
Customers who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from EZDriveMA or another toll agency should not click on the link.
EZDriveMA customers can verify a valid text notification in several ways:
The FBI says it has received more than 2,000 complaints related to toll smishing scams since early March and recommends individuals who receive fraudulent messages do the following:
1. File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov; be sure to include:
The phone number from where the text originated.
The website listed within the text
2. Check your account using the toll service's legitimate website.
3. Contact the toll service's customer service phone number.
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