K-12 Computer Science

FAQs

Why implementation of the CS Standards is a priority?

What the CS Standards are and are not in the elementary grades?

How do I confidently lead Computer Science Standards implementation in my district?

Why implementation of the CS Standards is a priority?

Computer Science Is Foundational, Not Optional

CS is a core subject that supports success in all fields, not just tech careers. It fosters critical thinking, problem solving, and digital literacy, making it a vital component of a well-rounded education.

CS Prepares Students for High-Demand Careers

The fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs increasingly require CS skills. Expanding access to CS helps address California’s workforce needs and economic competitiveness.

Equitable Access Must Be Prioritized

Historically underserved groups—especially Latinx, Black, rural, low-income, and female students—are underrepresented in CS. District leaders must ensure inclusive opportunities that start early and extend through high school.

CS Cultivates Future-Ready Skills Now

Beyond future careers, CS develops real-time student engagement, creativity, perseverance, and collaboration. These benefits support student motivation and academic achievement across disciplines.

The Public Demands It—But Schools Lag Behind

While 90% of parents want their children to learn CS, only a small percentage of schools offer it, especially in early grades. Districts must align their programs with community expectations and ensure systemic CS access.

CS Instruction Can Promote Empathy, Inclusion, and Accessibility

When taught well, CS encourages students to consider diverse user needs and design inclusive technologies—skills that reinforce social-emotional learning and cultural responsiveness.

Universal Access to CS Must Be Guaranteed

CS should be available to every student, in every school, starting in early grades—not treated as an optional elective or enrichment for a select few.

What the CS Standards are and are not in the elementary grades?

Computer Science Requires Students To...

understand why and how computing technologies work

use that conceptual knowledge to create computational artifacts.

not merely use technology as passive consumers.

Computer science is:

a theory and practice that allows you to program a computer to do what you want it to do;
a tool that helps you tell a story or make something happen with technology;
a discipline that emphasizes persistence in problem solving—a skill that is applicable across disciplines, driving job growth and innovation across all sectors of the workforce; and
a skill that teaches students how to use computers to create, not just consume.

Computer science is not:

learning how to type or use a mouse;
learning to use word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation software;
learning how to build or repair computers;
playing video games; and
learning Smarter Balanced skills.

Characteristics of K-12 CS Standards

CS standards progress appropriately across K-12 grades

The computer science core concepts and core practices are coherent across grades K–12.
The standards are vertically aligned as a core subject area, according to the following grade spans: K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12.

CS Core Concepts describe the content knowledge that students should understand, and include...

Computing Systems (CS)
Networks and the Internet (NI)
Data and Analysis (DA)
Algorithms and Programming (AP)
Impacts of Computing (IC)

CS Core Practices describe the behaviors and ways of thinking that computationally literate students use to fully engage in today’s data-rich and interconnected world, and include...

How do I confidently lead Computer Science Standards implementation in my district?

3 Steps to Successful Behavior Change

Pick One Thing

Focuses your energy (and the energy of those you lead) on a single implementation strategy at a time.

Make It Tiny

Small steps are easier to implement. How can you make this implementation strategy tiny?

Make It Feel Good

Align to your values, your leadership genius and strengths, your leadership enthusiasm and joy

Strategies to Support Computer Science Standards Implementation

5 Communication Strategies

Define a system-wide vision written in a language accessible to teachers, curriculum leaders, community members, school board members, students, parents, and families
Communicate the vision to stakeholders including multimedia methods (website, infographics, posters, etc.)
Conduct community meetings and parent nights to build awareness for computer science education and provide resources
Include student voices in messaging to stakeholders and encourage students to support the vision
Survey educators and other stakeholders to assess needs for professional learning and additional support

5 Building Capacity Strategies

Ensure stakeholders can define the vision and understand their role in its implementation
Provide professional learning opportunities for teachers and paraeducators in alignment to vision
Provide professional learning for administrators and encourage them to learn alongside teachers
Facilitate student leadership opportunities to promote students teaching students, cross-age tutoring, and mentorships
Personalize job-embedded professional learning to maximize effectiveness

5 Sustainability Strategies

Align computer science work to the vision, using common language to foster coherence across the system
Encourage educators to engage in peer observations and collaborative learning communities to share best practices
Foster collaboration across departments and grade levels to promote interdisciplinary connections and greater coherence within the system
Build partnerships between students and industry professionals and/or organizations
Reflect upon professional learning and implementation to guide continual improvement

Track Your Implementation Progress Over Time!

Implementation Rubric: District-level Progression

Identify where you're now with the strategy...Take small steps in the direction of your target!

💪 Pillar of Implementation: Supporting Computer Science through Professional Learning

Ongoing and customized professional learning is critical: Teachers need sustained, grade-appropriate CS professional development to meet teachers’ varied backgrounds in computer science.
Professional development should attend to novice teachers’ anxiety over their lack of content knowledge
Effective CS PD should align directly with California’s CS standards and include hands-on, collaborative activities that mirror the instructional strategies expected in the classroom.
CS professional learning should involve all educators—especially elementary teachers and those in other subject areas—to support integration across the curriculum and reach all students.
Systems-Level Planning and Support Matter, including leadership professional learning and coaching

💪 Pillar of Implementation: Policies to Promote Computer Science

Define ‘computer science’ and formally adopt the standards as local school board policy.
Allocate funding for relevant, rigorous professional learning and course development support.
Maintain awareness of, and support, certification pathways.
Develop partnerships with higher education organizations.
Create dedicated computer science positions at local education agencies.
Require all high schools to offer computer science.
Allow computer science to count as a graduation requirement.
Allow computer science to count as an admissions requirement for institutes of higher education.

Flexible Possibilities for Computer Science Standards Implementation

Just Starting Out?

Elementary Level: Integrated into the general education classroom
Middle School Level: Integrated into math, science, and/or other subjects
High School Level: Integrated into math, science, and/or other subjects

Getting more exposure?

Elementary Level: Integrated into an existing special classroom (e.g., media arts, computer lab, makerspace)
Middle School Level: Integrated into an existing special classroom (e.g., media arts, computer lab, makerspace)
High School Level: Introductory and/or independent course(s)

Going even deeper?

Elementary Level: Independent special class (push-in or pull-out similar to models sometimes used for music, arts, etc.)
Middle School Level: Introductory and/or independent course(s)
High School Level: A menu of course options available for all students, including advanced courses (e.g., honors, AP, IB)

Wanting broad and deep exposure?

Elementary Level: Integrated for all with additional independent enrichment course via extended hours options
Middle School Level: Integrated for all with additional independent enrichment course elective options
High School Level: Specialized courses (e.g., game design, cybersecurity, networking, robotics)

Implementation Start Up Tip ✅ :

Take advantage of CS's interdisciplinary nature

Integrate Computer Science into other subject areas, especially in K-8 settings
The standards contain interdisciplinary connection examples in grades K–8
K-8 settings have lots of flexibility in their options for integrating computer science for all students

Implementation Start Up Tip ✅ :

Take advantage of CS, NGSS, Math intersections of practices

The Computer Science (CS) practices intersect with the practices described in the Next Generation Science Standards, which also include engineering, and the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice

Implementation Start Up Tip ✅ :

Take advantage of how CS's Core Practice "Communicating about Computing" intersects with ELA and ELD standards

Communicating about Computing is a key practice that is reinforced throughout the CS standards by asking students to describe, explain, and justify program design decisions, computing phenomena, and the impacts of computing on society.
These CS standards support numerous ELA speaking, listening, and writing standards as well as ELD standards, including synthesizing information from multiple sources, writing discipline-specific arguments, developing facility with technical vocabulary, and understanding diverse perspectives.

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