Preparing Students for Quantum Computing
Tech & Learning, Thursday, September 10th, 2026
NSF advice for educators on preparing students for quantum careers amid a growing quantum workforce shortage.
With the DOE and NSF launching major quantum initiatives, NSF spokesperson Miriam Kleiman warns that the quantum field is growing faster than the workforce can support.
She advises teachers to pair core quantum mechanics, computer science and math with hands-on activities such as programming quantum devices, plus industry guest talks and internships.
NSF-supported curricula including TeachQuantum, QuSTEAM and Chicago Quantum Exchange resources are available. Every student should grasp qubits, superposition, entanglement and decoherence, and understand quantum's potential in drug discovery, logistics and cryptography.