PROFESSIONAL  LEARNING

CS Equity Guide

The CS Equity Guide is written as a starting point for school leaders interested in translating an equity vision for computer science education into practical steps for implementation. Administrators from district and county offices from around the state contributed to the guide, using their experience to help other leaders. 

The guide offers support for

  • Program design & development
  • Student recruitment
  • Classroom culture and structure
  • Preparing & supporting teachers
  • Funding
  • Family, community & industry partnerships
  • Extended learning time opportunities
Admin CS Workshop 2
Admin CS workshop 1

The CS Equity Workshop for School Leaders

The CS Equity Workshop for School Leaders is a one-day workshop targeted at leaders from the school, district, and county levels. SCALE-CA members used experiences from previous workshops and the feedback from the CS Equity Guide to develop the workshop.

In the workshop, administrators:

  • examine their own biases and challenge stereotypes,
  • analyze demographic data on who is and is not currently receiving CS education in California using the Kapor Center’s CS Equity Dashboard,
  • work together to consider various challenges that that complicate equitable CS implementation, and
  • determine what next steps they can take to make their vision of equitable CS a reality
Train the Trainer CS

The Train the Trainer for the CS Equity Workshop for School Leaders

With generous funding from ECEP, the SCALE-CA partnership developed a Train the Trainer series to support facilitators interested in providing the CS Equity Workshop for School Leaders to administrators across California and the country.

The three sessions walk future facilitators through the various activities of the workshop, and encourage them to reflect on how these activities could best be implemented in their regions.

The Summer of CS

The Summer of CS, a professional development week designed for teams of teachers, counselors, and administrators. This model of professional learning allows flexibility for regional adaptation through the statewide systems of support:

  • K12 teachers learn culturally responsive practices to engage underrepresented students with CS standards-aligned curriculum;
  • District/county administrators take part in the CS Equity Workshop for School Leaders
  • School counselors engage with the National Center for Women in Information Technology, to develop strategies to encourage students and families to prioritize CS.

While Summer of CS was initially piloted in partnership with Sacramento County Office of Education, it has now been replicated in Santa Barbara County, Riverside County, and Los Angeles Unified School District. In 2021, the Summer of CS utilized a “hub-and-spoke” model that allowed rural educators to train with facilitators and alongside other participants in different parts of California.

You can learn more about the impact of the Summer of CS by reviewing our papers, Building Systemic Capacity to Scale and Sustain Equity in Computer Science through MultiStakeholder Professional Development and Preparing School Leaders to Advance Equity in Computer Science Education.