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4 ways forward-thinking districts are inspiring more students to code

students-coding

How innovative districts are exposing more students to coding and closing the participation gap

Recently, President Barack Obama announced his administration’s commitment to provide computer science education for all students [1]. Endorsement by the White House is valuable to those new to introducing computer science (CS) in the classroom, as well as others, like members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools [2], who have championed CS for years.

Members of the League, a coalition of 73 of the most forward-thinking U.S. public school districts, have long prioritized computational thinking and CS education for their students. Thirty League districts, representing over one million students, made commitments to the White House [3] to further the President’s proposal.

Districts in the League have committed to developing thoughtful, long-term solutions to overcome the obstacles that many populations of students face  one of the world’s most important languages. Today’s League leaders are exposing students to computational thinking at a young age, giving current educators the opportunity to get certified, making CS a graduation requirement, and providing out-of-school learning opportunities, all of which are helping to close the participation gap in CS education.

Expose students to computer science at a young age

Give current educators the opportunity to get certified

Make computer science a graduation requirement

Computer science education can take place outside of class time

There is no one right way to close the participation gap for students in computer science. There are, however, endless ways to try.