For the Rockland County Smart Start Program, Rockland Board of Cooperative Educational Services (Rockland BOCES), Mouse, Inc., and seven partnering school districts, have developed a custom professional development and support program in consultation with the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council that will result in an adoption and integration of computer science curriculum to increase capacity and expertise of K-8th grade teachers. 

The mission of Rockland BOCES is to be a leader in providing quality, cost-effective, educationally focused programs and services that support learners in achieving high standards. As a regional leader and innovator, Rockland BOCES believes in the intrinsic value of every learner and in its responsibility to help them realize their dreams.

Mouse is a New York-based nonprofit organization with over 20 years of experience and a proven record of accomplishment in providing high quality computer science and digital literacy professional development and support services to K-8 teachers. This experience includes over five years of advisement and training to the NYC Department of Education as well as several BOCES regions on how to build computer science pathways. Mouse is an NYSED-approved CTLE sponsor and has worked with Rockland BOCES over the last several years to provide professional development to Rockland County administrators and teachers. The focus for this Large Grant is on professional development and support in Computer Science with elements of engineering and educational technology. 

The project will utilize best practices for cohort and train-the-trainer models and will build administrator and teacher capacity and expertise to teach and support student competency in in computer science, a content area deemed vital for the growth and stability of the Mid-Hudson region and the State of New York.