Ivanka Trump, experts talk STEM education in Detroit

DETROIT (WJBK) - Ivanka Trump visited Detroit on Tuesday to promote STEM education and the private sector's promise to boost computer science education.

A panel of professionals, tech experts, and corporate executives gathered in Detroit to talk about the issues. Ivanka says access to high-quality STEM education is lacking in too many of the country's K-12 and postsecondary schools.

"Right now less than half of American schools have even a single computer science course so we have to do better - we are going to do better and this is a giant leap forward in that direction," Ivanka said.

Ivanka promised continued action from the administration, which on Monday directed the Department of Education to make computer science and STEM education a priority when awarding $200 million worth of grant money to schools.

"Computer science and coding are a priority for the administration as we think about pathways to jobs," Ivanka said.

It is unclear just how these dollars are getting into the classrooms but Ivanka says the administration is reaching out to state governors to alert school districts to apply for these grants.

It is education corporations want to see happening as soon as possible - the job opportunities endless from cyber security to space travel.

"When the first American steps on the red dust of Mars it's going to be because of computer scientists and we want to get our youth involved in that," said Marilynn Hewson, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, General Motors and Quicken Loans were among the corporations donating millions of dollars to the effort.. It's one they say will give everyone a chance at the high-paying jobs of the future.

"It shouldn't be that a student's chance to study it depends on the neighborhood she grows up in - or the color of his skin," said Hadi Partovi, CEO of code.org.

Quicken Loans Chairman Dan Gilbert echoed the statement.

"This is the answer - it is just flat out the answer - if you put technology skills into these urban schools. ... It's just such a win-win for society - creating wealth, creating jobs and creating confidence and optimism," he said. "And so I don't know if there's anything better we can do than training people in technology jobs in this country right now.

Watch the full presser on Fox 2 News Now below: