Building Computer Science Education Capacity in NJ

Funded by The Martinson Family Foundation and based at the College of New Jersey, this three-year project aims to increase the number of educators teaching computer science in the state of New Jersey by offering free professional development.

 

Rationale

While the demand for computer science jobs remains high, the number of students graduating with a degree in CS is exceptionally low. In 2014, only 891 students graduated with a CS degree in New Jersey, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of the 422 high schools in the state, only 170 offered the AP Computer Science course in 2014-2015. Currently, the New Jersey legislature is considering Bill No. 2873, which would require each public high school in New Jersey to offer a computer science course by the 2018-2019 school year. The new AP Computer Science Principles course and exam is being launched in the 2016-2017 school year. Additionally, both the Next Generation Science Standards (Practice 5 – Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking) and New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standard 8.2, Strand E (Computational Thinking) require teachers to incorporate computational thinking into their curricula.