The document discusses the importance and status of computer science (CS) education in Texas, highlighting its foundational role in preparing students for a diverse range of careers. It emphasizes the need for more certified CS teachers, equitable access to education, and the growing demand for CS skills across various industries. The WeTeach_CS initiative aims to address training and certification challenges to expand K-12 computer science programs in the state.

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November 13, 2017 • San Antonio, TX ---
WeTeach_CS and
You Can Too!
TI Leadership Summit
Carol L. Fletcher, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Center for STEM Education
The University of Texas at Austin
carol.fletcher@utexas.edu
@drfletcher88
@weteachcs

2. 1
 What is CS?
 Why CS?
 CS Education in Texas
 How to grow a K-12 CS program in TX?
AGENDA

3. 2
What is CS Education
& What it is Not

4. 3
“[CS is] not about
computers in the
same sense that
physics is not really
about particle
accelerators and
biology is not about
microscopes and
petri dishes…”
Abelson, 1986

5. 4

6. 5

7. 6
Why
CS Education?
○ Computer science leads to
economic opportunity
○ Computer science is
foundational for every child,
regardless of career
○ Computer science is fun and
engaging
○ Equitable access to computer
science is critical

8. 7
40%
All other STEM
jobs
60%
Computing
jobs
90%
All other
STEM
graduates
10%
Computing
graduates
The STEM problem is in CS
20%
female
8%
hispanic
or black
Sources: College Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation

9. 8Code.org

10. 9
Health Care
Space
Home
Transportation
Entertainment
Computing is revolutionizing EVERY field

11. 10

12. 11Source: Brookings
The value of a computer science education

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▪ 67% of software jobs are outside the tech industry – in banking,
retail, government, entertainment, etc
▪ We need ALL our children prepared for the 21st century
This isn’t just about tech companies
“Knowledge of computer programming is as
important as knowledge of anatomy when it
comes to medical research or clinical care”
Larry Corey,
Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center

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Percentage of graduates who
earned credit in high school
computer science classes
between 1990 and 2009
It was the only STEM subject
to experience a drop.
Nord et al., 2011
6%

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18. 17

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0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Fewer computer science graduates than
10 years ago (and half as many women):
Source:: Code.org - National Science Foundation, National Center for Education Statistics
FEMALE
MALE

20. 19
NCWIT.org
Percentage of computing occupations held by women
has been declining since 1991

21. 20
NCWIT.org
Percentage of Computing Occupations
Held by Women

22. 21

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CS Education
in Texas

26. 25
Where Are the CS
Teachers?
Only 14individuals
completed a pre-service
teacher education
program to become
certified in Grades 8-12
Computer Science.

27. 26
No CS Teachers = No CS Students
Only 3% of Texas
high school
graduates in 2015
had completed a CS
course.

28. 27

29. 28
Texas is considered a national leader in K-12 CS Education.
• TX counts AP Computer Science as a math credit for
graduation.
• TX requires high school CS teachers to be certified in
computer science.
• TX requires teachers to pass a CS content exam to be CS
certified.
• TX has state standards for computer science courses.
• TX is a leader in the number of Black, Hispanic, and female
AP CS enrollees.
• And…

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TX requires all HS to offer CS courses!

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74.3(b)(2)(I) Tech App Curriculum Requirement – every district must offer, and
74.3(b)(4) each student must have the opportunity to participate in the following:
Computer Science I
AP Computer Scienceor
At least two (2) of the following:
• Computer Science III
• Digital Art and Animation
• Digital Communications in the
21st Century
• Digital Design and Media
Production
• Digital Forensics
• Digital Video and Audio Design
• Discrete Mathematics for
Computer Science
• Fundamentals of Computer
Science
• Game Programming and Design
• Independent Study in
Evolving/Emerging Technologies
• Independent Study in Technology
Applications
• Mobile Application Development
• Robotics Programming and Design
• 3-D Modeling and Animation
• Web Communications
• Web Design
• Web Game Development
Computer Science II
Curriculum Requirement
Source: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter074/ch074a.html

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35. 34
Back to diversity ...

36. 35
Computer Science:
The fastest growing
AP course this
decade
25% increase in
female participation
38% increase in
underrepresented
minorities
Exponential Growth of CS in First Year of
AP CS Principles (2016-17)

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Fundamentals of Computer Science
(Code.org CS Discoveries)
Grade 8
Computer Science Pathway Recommendation
Computer Science I
Grade 9
AP CS Principles
Grade 9
Computer Science II
Grade 10
AP CS A
Grade 10
Mobile App
Development
or
or
Game Design/
Development
Robotics
Programming
Cybersecurity Database or
Data Analytics

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How to Grow Your
CS Program

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WeTeach_CS Program Overview

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19
110
50
100
150
200
250
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Number of Texas Teachers Certified
in HS Computer Science
In-service certification pathway Pre-service certification pathway
School Years
NumberofTeachers

43. 42
19 22
11 90
50
100
150
200
250
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Number of Texas Teachers Certified
in HS Computer Science
In-service certification pathway Pre-service certification pathway
School Years
NumberofTeachers

44. 43
19 22
40
11 9
31
0
50
100
150
200
250
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Number of Texas Teachers Certified
in HS Computer Science
In-service certification pathway Pre-service certification pathway
School Years
NumberofTeachers

45. 44
19 22
40
70
11 9
31 23
0
50
100
150
200
250
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Number of Texas Teachers Certified
in HS Computer Science
In-service certification pathway Pre-service certification pathway
School Years
NumberofTeachers

46. 45
19 22
40
70
210
11 9
31 23
130
50
100
150
200
250
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Number of Texas Teachers Certified
in HS Computer Science
In-service certification pathway Pre-service certification pathway
Launched
School Years
NumberofTeachers

47. 46
➤ 400
Texas educators
have become CS certified
since Fall 2015

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Foundations of Computer
Science for Teachers
Course was developed with
funding from:
The course provides extensive
detailed instruction, examples and
practice on everything from
introductory programming topics
such as variables, functions, loops
and logical expressions to more
advanced topics such as data
structures, recursion, and object
oriented programming.
This course is intended for prospective K-12
Computer Science teachers to review key
topics in Computer Science required by the
certification test.

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Funded by
Certification Incentive
Program (CIP)
Through the support
of 100Kin10 and TEA, the
CIP provides the opportunity for
Texas educators to apply for a
$1,000 STIPEND awarded by the
TRC for successfully attaining
their certification goal.

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0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
CS 1 CS 2 APCS A
Goal #2: Percentage of TX High Schools Offering CS Courses
(2015-16)

51. 50
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Goal #3: Number of TX HS Students Who Received Credit for Each
CS Course by Year
CS1 CS2 APCS A

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0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Female EcoDis UnderRep
Goal #4: Broadening Participation in
High School CS Courses
CS 1 CS 2 APCS A All HS Students in Texas

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CS Discoveries
Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory computer science
course that empowers students to create authentic artifacts and
engage with computer science as a medium for creativity,
communication, problem solving, and fun.
https://code.org/educate/csd

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The College Board AP CS Principles Framework
 A number of AP CS Principles curricula available
 No standard programming language
 No recommended order or sequencing
 Includes a research / writing task as well as
programming
 Project Based
 Encourages collaboration and creativity

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Code.org Professional Learning Program (PLP)
CS Discoveries (6th-9th grade)
CS Principles (9th-12th grade)
Teacher applications are open from January – March 2018
• Principal provides approval for specified teacher and commitment to
put course on master schedule with students that match the
demographics of the campus
• Teachers to commit to entire PLP
• 5-day summer training in Dallas (July 30-August 3, 2018)
• 4 follow-up trainings in the 2018-2019 school year
Contact: Amy.Werst@utexas.edu

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PEIMS Numbers
Computer Science Principles
A3580300

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PEIMS Numbers

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Fundamental of CS and CS Principles -
required certification
Technology Applications
or
Computer Science 8-12
Teacher Certification

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Professional Learning for Teachers
● 5-day Summer Teacher TEXCon
○ Local conference hosted by Professional
Learning Partners
● 4 Follow-up Sessions
○ Hosted locally by Professional Learning Partners
● Online Supports and Forums

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Professional Learning for Teachers
● Space is limited!
● Requirements to participate
○ School is offering course
○ Teacher commits to attending all professional learning
○ Teacher who attends workshop is scheduled to teach course
○ Teacher has appropriate certifications to teach the course
● Principal signs off on above items
● Application will open in early 2018

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 January 22-23, 2018 (Houston)
 February 12-13, 2018 (San Angelo)
 February 27-28, 2018 (Tyler)
 March 12-13, 2018 (Waco)
 April 19-20, 2018 (Austin)
WeTeach_CS Certification Prep Face-to-Face Trainings

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 CS PD Week and Hour of Code • December 4-8, 2017 (Worldwide!)
 Integrated CS (K-8) • December 11-13, 2017 (Austin)
 How to Teach HS CS • January 25-26, 2018 (Austin)
 CSP Mini-Conference • March 1-2, 2018 (Austin)
 CS Facilitators Academy • March 26-30, 2018 (Richardson)
 Logo Summer Institute • June 11-14, 2018 (Austin)
 WeTeach_CS Summit • June 18-20, 2018 (Georgetown)
 WeTeach_CS Deep Dives • June 21-22, 2018 (Georgetown)
 Code.org Texas Teacher Con • July 30-August 3, 2018 (Richardson)
Upcoming WeTeach_CS Professional Development

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WeTeach_CS Summit
• June 18-20, 2018
• Georgetown, TX

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Stay in the Loop about
CS opportunities
 Check out WeTeach_CS Events
 More professional
development events added
weekly
 Java, Integrating CS, How to
Teach HS CS, Equity in CS,
LOGO, cybersecurity, and
more!
Subscribe to
WeTeach_CS Blog
➢ WeTeachCS.org

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Carol L. Fletcher, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Center for STEM Education
The University of Texas at Austin
carol.fletcher@utexas.edu
@drfletcher88
@weteachcs
Thank you!
STEMcenter.utexas.edu
weteachcs.org