Hi Jake,

Thanks for checking out the CS4GA video that explains our statewide effort, highlighting a local initiative focused on the South Atlanta Cluster in Atlanta Public Schools.  The video focuses on the CS4GA Advisory Council completing Middle School CS/STEM Standards, while showing what underserved underrepresented communities are doing to become certified, as well as show how students in the cluster were invited to participate in cluster-wide initiatives focused on STEM and CS to introduce them to the world of STEM in a fun and interactive way.  The attachments show the growth and scope of our work in the State of Georgia. I have served on the advisory board since it's inception in 2016.  

While many parents, students, teachers, and community members struggle to understand what CS, STEM, and STEAM mean, we realize it is more important to help them understand computational thinking and explain why it is important. These are essential skills that are a blend of math, science, and critical thinking skills focused on solving high level problems with viable cost effective solutions.  

A perfect example, is how CS4GA has also consulted with individuals and organizations that focus on exposing students with disabilities to CS concepts. The average person would assume that students with special needs would not do well in CS or STEM, however research has shown that they can have just as much success with the right accommodations, tools, and support.  The same is true about students from low income communities as well.  Teaching them how to use computational thinking to solve real world problems in school, at home, and in our communities is our goal.

Thank you for the clarification. This is, then, a large-scale effort! I applaud the work of all involved in Georgia. Having worked at the state level in Massachusetts for many years I know that driving change in a state-wide system is a challenge and slow work. And given that scale, there are -- as you note -- a wide diversity of contexts and students to engage. There is rarely a single strategy that works in all these contexts. With computational thinking as the theme, what are some ways that the engagement, activities, messages, and/or strategies are adjusted for different contexts across the state?

Jake

Yes, we are currently working to convene stakeholders around the State of Georgia to learn from school districts, community organizations, employers, STEM and CS leaders about ways to engage and educate communities on the best practices and resources available to them. Each school district has autonomy, so they can choose to implement or intergrate CS in ways they feel would best support their students and families. In addition, we would like to learn how we can best support teachers get STEM and CS certifications, support HS students in the areas of CS/ STEM certifications Career and Pathways, support implementation of new Middle School CS Standards, and advocate for educators, nonprofits, and employers to use collective impact to increase equity for all,  as we prepare our youth for high demand careers in Georgia.  Lastly, the needs of rural, urban, and inner city communities will vary, so it is important to spend time listening and getting to know the people in order to provide support, while developing a database with resources accessible to everyone in our communities.  For more information, visit www.cs4ga.org