The CSTA Standards for Computer Science Teachers provide clear guidance around effective and equitable CS instruction in support of rigorous CS education for all K–12 students. The Standards:
- Explain what CS teachers should know and be able to do
- Establish benchmarks for CS professional learning
- Provide goals to guide teachers’ professional learning and continuously develop their teaching practice from novice to master CS teachers
CS teachers enter the field from many different areas of specialization, and their preparation varies significantly. Each indicator is a roadmap to support teachers from multiple entry points as they identify their strengths and areas for growth.
The Standards represent a collaborative effort to provide a vision of CS teaching and learning based on the latest research. They were designed to complement the outcomes for student learning delineated in the K–12 CS Framework (2016) and CSTA K–12 CS Standards (2017).
As a K–12 administrator, you can use the CSTA Standards for CS Teachers to support teachers’ professional development, create plans for equitable recruitment, mitigate systemic barriers to equitable CS participation, and learn what to look for when evaluating computer science teachers. We have designed this guidance along with a set of resources to support you. For example, you can use our CS coaching toolkit to help teachers plan, implement, and reflect; or you can use an observation tool to collect evidence and support teacher reflection on effective instructional practices.
Support CS at Your School
CSTA membership is not just for teachers. We welcome administrators and leaders, too!