The White House is spotlighting Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) for its commitment to providing students with increased access to computer science. The District’s goal is for every student to participate in~computer science courses and curriculum while in school.
The District’s ongoing computer science efforts support President Barack Obama’s broad call to action to expand computer science in K-12 classrooms, and for education leaders, federal agencies, companies, foundations, and non-profits to do more to make this critical subject available to students. Below is a link to today’s release from The White House: whitehouse.gov.
“We’re honored to have The White House highlight our District’s strong commitment to providing all students with access to computer science,” said Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “Computer science is one of the fastest growing fields in the world. By allowing our students to experience this foundational field - and build on their skills from elementary through high school, we are opening doors to new career options, while also increasing students’ problem solving abilities, critical thinking skills and creativity, all of which will positively impact them throughout their education and futures.”
In 2013, BCPS became the first school district in the nation to partner with the national, non-profit organization Code.org to increase computer science in schools. Since the start of the partnership, BCPS has increased the number of students participating in computer science courses and curriculum from 240 students in 2013, to now include more than 38,000 elementary, middle and high school students. 100 percent of the District’s high schools now offer computer science courses for students.
The District’s computer science initiative does not just impact students. Since 2014, more than 560 BCPS teachers have also participated in professional development related to computer science in the classroom, provided by Code.org.
In addition, BCPS is the recipient of a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a national model for integrating science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and computer science in elementary schools.
To learn more about the District’s computer science initiative, visit browardschools.com/browardcodes.
