We are excited to announce a statewide Computer Science Education Summit planning effort, with the goal of bringing together educators on October 22nd and 23rd, 2021 to discuss the future of K-12 CS education in the state.

The CS Summit will provide a big-picture view of the computing education landscape (including policies; practices; and data on access and participation) provides the backdrop against which to identify gaps, set strategy, and measure change and progress.

Goals of the Why CS Summit:

Washington State is making CS education a priority. Computer Science Education empowers and equips youth for success in the 21st century. Computer science is not just for a select few, rather, it is for all students. To make this possible, we must strategically invest in building: capacity, access, student engagement, and student outcomes. The first annual CS Education Summit will build a foundational perspective about ‘Why and how CS’ education is essential for success in the 21st century, uniting stakeholders across the state to work collaboratively and synergistically in expanding CS educational opportunities.

Knowing what computing education exists in the state is the first step in developing a strategy for change. Defining the landscape means knowing what is happening in multiple sectors, understanding what is and isn’t being measured, and setting priorities based on landscape data. The hardest part is seeing the big picture of who the stakeholders are; the resources available; the policy landscape; and understanding who is participating in computing education and figuring out how to make a change within a state.

Summit Themes: 

1. How CS improves student learning: competencies, literacies, 21st-century skills

2. How CS drives technological, social & scientific innovation

3. Why access to CS is an equity & social justice matter

4. Why CS is a critical component of school reform and improvement