As a former computer science teacher and current Executive Director of CSTA, I’m writing to share important news about upcoming changes to our membership structure. These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to empowering K-12 CS educators and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our organization.
A Simplified Approach to Membership
In early March 2025, CSTA will transition to a streamlined, single-tier membership model. This change comes after careful consideration of how we can best serve our community while maintaining the high-quality resources and support that our members depend on.
For our current members, here’s what this means:
Current Basic Members:
- The free basic membership tier will be retired
- You can upgrade to a full CSTA membership for $50 annually to maintain exclusive benefits
- If no action is taken, your account will automatically transition to a free CSTA account with access to free resources in the CSTA Resources Library, CS Today, and your CSTA personal profile, which will include a virtual log of your CS professional development history, called the PD Passport. With the PD passport, you’ll be able to upload your own professional development experiences and to generate a printable record of all PD hours.
Current CSTA+ Members:
- Your membership will automatically transition to the new CSTA membership
- All your existing benefits will remain unchanged
- The only difference you’ll notice is the removal of the “+”
Why We’re Making This Change
As an independent organization run by teachers for teachers, we rely on member support to fulfill our mission of delivering high-quality, accessible, and inclusive computer science education. The truth is our programs and support for members cost significantly more than membership dues cover. While this will always be balanced with other funding sources, the sustainable path forward includes all members supporting the organization.
This simplified structure will allow us to:
- Ensure a sustainable and independent future for the organization
- Better focus our work on the resources and needs of our engaged membership
- Eliminates confusion and ensures every CSTA member has full access to all our resources and community benefits
The Value of CSTA Membership
When you join as a CSTA member, you become part of the world’s largest CS Department. Through your membership, you gain access to a comprehensive suite of benefits designed specifically for CS educators:
- Opportunities to join local chapters and take on leadership roles in the community
- Discounted registration for our annual conference
- Free registration for our Professional Learning Series
- Unlimited access to our library of on-demand courses and webinars
- Exclusive professional development resources and networking opportunities
Next Steps
For current basic members, we encourage you to upgrade to full CSTA membership before Feb. 24, 2025. CSTA+ members need not take any action – your transition will be automatic.
We understand you may have questions about these changes. Our membership team is ready to assist you at membership@csteachers.org, and we’ve prepared a comprehensive FAQ page on our website to address common questions.
Looking Forward
These changes represent an important step in CSTA’s evolution as we work to better serve our community of educators. Your support enables us to continue providing the resources, advocacy, and professional development opportunities that help CS teachers thrive.
Thank you for being part of the CSTA community. Together, we’re building a stronger foundation for computer science education across K-12 classrooms.