Guidance for Policymakers - Computer Science Teachers Association

State leaders and policymakers can use CSTA Standards when enacting statewide policies around computer science education, including legislative initiatives and funding opportunities. This information may help mitigate unintended consequences when developing and implementing state policies.

We have designed the following guidance and resources to support you.

Download Guidance for Policymakers

CSTA Standards for CS Teachers

CSTA K–12 Computer Science Standards

Promote CS in Your State

Use Data

Read the annual report on K-12 CS education in the U.S., which provides an update on national and state-level CS education policy, including policy trends, maps, state summaries, and implementation data.

State of CS

Many states have created their own dashboards to share CS education access to and participation data.

State Dashboards

View the biannual landscape report to learn about who teaches K-12 CS education in the U.S. and what they need to promote equity. Use the interactive data dashboard to learn about the CS teachers in your state.

CS Teacher Landscape

Create an Action Plan

Follow the ECEP Alliance’s five-step process toward state-level CS education reform, to meet the unique context of your state’s education systems and policies.

How to Change a State

Develop a landscape report to provide an aerial picture of what K-12 CS education looks like in the state and identify gaps and opportunities.

Landscape Reports

Develop a strategic plan to provide coherence to the overall effort of implementing K–12 CS, involve stakeholders, and create a vision that can be publicly communicated.

State Planning Toolkit

Review sample strategic plans from ECEP state teams to inform your own strategic planning process.

State Strategic plans

Adopt Comprehensive Standards

Define K-12 computer science learning in your state by adopting a set of clear, rigorous, and comprehensive standards.

CSTA K-12 Standards

Align your state’s standards to the K-12 CS Framework, a national effort to define the core concepts and practices in CS.

K-12 CS Framework

Include identity-inclusive topics (e.g., ethics, impacts of computing, accessibility) in standards and endorsed courses.

AiiCE Curriculum & Pedagogy

Plan Teacher Certification Pathways

Develop multi-pronged approaches to
CS teacher preparation and licensure.

Teacher Pathway Recommendations

Include all five CS Teacher Standards in the requirements for teachers to earn CS certifications or endorsements, with a balance of content, pedagogy, and inclusive practices.

CS Teacher Standards

Invest in comprehensive preservice CS teacher education programs. Support schools of education in developing programs.

Guidance for Schools of Education

Allocate Funding

Provide funding to support districts and schools in CS implementation, including initial and ongoing professional development aligned to the CS Teacher Standards. Prioritize schools serving higher concentrations of students underrepresented in CS.

Models for Funding PD

Connect to existing sources of funding (e.g., Perkins or Career Technical Education, Title I, Title II, and Title IV).

Using ESSA to Expand CS

Fund ongoing professional development, including intermediate and advanced learning sessions, local professional learning communities (PLCs), and coaching, in order to support the continued growth of CS teachers.

CSTA+ Membership

Ensure Universal Participation

Create requirements to ensure universal CS participation beginning in elementary grades and continuing through high school (e.g., one required course or integrated experience per grade band, graduation requirements, etc.).

High School Graduation Requirement Case Study

95% of K–12 CS teachers in the US support universal CS learning. 86% believe that CS should be a high school graduation requirement. Learn more, and view the data from teachers in your state.