Code in the Schools Inc

We see these three core components -- greater exposure to computer science, access to opportunities to build knowledge and gain practical experience, and availability of multiple, clearly articulated pathways to college and career -- as the key to driving more youth to develop an interest in computing careers and ultimately possess the knowledge, skills and experience required to be successful in post-secondary education and career pathways, ultimately leading to a more diverse workforce. Importantly, we believe these opportunities need to be provided to students in a more seamless package that connects educational experiences over time and across contexts. And, that educational experiences should focus not only on the technical content of computer science but also on the job readiness skills and industry exposure that are important components of preparing students for whichever path they embark upon. This focus on nurturing and mentoring the whole child through computer science learning experiences is a key feature of CITS programming and aligns with our core belief that youth participating in CITS programs should emerge with greater awareness of opportunities open to them and empowered to successfully achieve their life goals.

Second, increased awareness regarding the full breadth of what computer science education entails and its importance to future education and 21st century career pathways among students, families, communities, educators, and industry leaders is needed to prompt a greater prioritization of computer science in educational offerings and choices. Students, families and communities are often unaware of computer science education and career pathways, and students who are interested in pursuing these pathways are often not adequately prepared for success. Students and families must be made aware of these opportunities and voice their demand for greater access, both in and outside of school settings.

Similarly, increased awareness and among industry and higher education organizations about the need for greater and more equitable access to computer science experiences for all youth, along with shifts in mindset about the importance of these skills for our future workforce, is needed to drive engagement from these system actors to actively participate in building and supporting non-traditional pathways to computing careers.

Given these beliefs, and the organization’s strengths and expertise, CITS has committed to five primary programmatic strategies for the next 3-5 years.

Provide direct in-school instruction to students in a small number of Baltimore City Public Schools to increase access to in-school experiences for youth, pilot innovation that can inform our other programs and ongoing learning, and continue to inform our dynamic point of view on seamless K-12 computer science approaches.
Deliver an expanded, branded portfolio of out-of-school learning experiences for students in grades 6-12, including both school year and summer programming, that provides a comprehensive set of computer science and job readiness skills aligned to multiple post-secondary pathways. Existing programs and events such as Prodigy and CodeWorks will fit under this new comprehensive approach to out-of-school supplementary programs focused on preparing students for traditional and non-traditional pathways into computer science careers. A key mechanism for delivering these experiences will be through partnerships with external organizations to outsource CITS instructors to non-profits or mission aligned organizations interested in providing computer science programming to their students.
Facilitate relevant real-world work experiences for students through creating and/or supporting pathways with industry and higher education into job experiences, and providing project-based work experiences to CITS students within our out-of-school programs.
Serve as a leader in developing capacity of instructors, locally and nationally, to effectively teach computer science through offering a branded portfolio of professional learning experiences for instructors and acting as code.org regional partner.
Increase the capacity of districts and states to deliver high-quality computer science instruction through fee-for-service advising, with a focus on design and implementation of K-12 educational experiences, CTE pathways, instructor knowledge & skills, industry engagement, and work experience models.

Code in the School’s five strategic priorities represent work at various stages of development, including well established programs that will continue to be delivered in the future with quality and greater scale, existing programs that are primed for assessment and redesign to align with the field’s evolving market and the organization’s beliefs and expertise, and potential new areas of work to be explored.

With this in mind, CITS programmatic work is categorized based on four phases of development: Market Exploration, Program Design and Alignment, Program Quality, and Program Growth. While the stages are depicted as linear, arrows signify that there is a circular and iterative relationship between stages, such that ongoing design and alignment, and in some cases market exploration, are expected as program quality is assessment and decisions around program growth are made.

Launched in 2013, Code in the Schools (CITS) currently serves over 7,000 youth each year through a combination of in- and out-of-school direct service programs. The organization also provides training and support to educators and school and district leaders to effectively deliver high-quality computer science educational experiences. We strongly believe that computer science is a foundational subject in the 21st century. Early exposure is critical for students to opt in to advanced classes in high school and to choose computing career pathways. Moreover, more numerous and diverse experiences are needed to supplement and support the instruction students receive in school to improve preparation for these career pathways.