Remake Learning’s CSforPGH working group is a regional collaborative comprised of individuals and organizations who seek to equitably equip and empower learners to use computer science (CS), responsibly, as a tool to change their world. The work of CSforPGH is inspired by the national CSforALL campaign. CSforALL is a central resource for individuals and organizations interested in K-12 CS education, and they connect like-minded providers, schools and districts, funders, and researchers across the United States.

At the annual CSforALL Summit, stakeholders gather together to learn, share, and be inspired by the progress of the CSforALL movement. At this year’s CSforALL Summit, CSforPGH and 10 member organizations from the Pittsburgh region have made a public commitment to the future computer science education and access for all.

Local commitments join over 250 organizations nationwide to support and expand the CS movement. Read more about the national commitment makers from CSforALL.

CSforPGH Commitments

CSforPGH commits to:

• Strengthening relationships with out-of-school time organizations serving girls in STEM and students of color
• Expanding the CSforPGH network by sourcing additional members specializing in computational thinking
• Creating and hosting a marquee event that brings together regional stakeholders to share promising practices in computer science
• Expanding on the CSforInclusion series with webinars, Twitter chats, and local events
• Distributing grants to support CSforPGH members who are jump-starting computer science activity in their learning spaces

CSforPGH Member Commitments

Computer Science Teachers Association Pittsburgh commits to providing teachers with a space to connect and collaborate with other CS educators and also provide opportunities to discover new tools and resources for their classroom.

Carnegie Mellon University CS Academy commits to expanding our number of course offerings as well as the reach, number of teachers and students with access to our free, world-class, online, teacher-led computer science curriculum.

Intermediate Unit 1 commits to:

• Expanding its Lending Library of digital and technical tools and professional development opportunities for educators in Washington, Fayette, and Greene Counties with the goals of reaching over 50 teachers and impacting over 3,000 students.
• Supporting teachers of their three special education and alternative education campus schools through Code.org CS Fundamentals and CMU CS Academy workshops.
• Supporting efforts to expand Code.org CS Fundamentals professional learning opportunities across the region through the support of their Regional Partner, Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
• Supporting the expansion of CMU’s CS Academy course across school districts in Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties through various professional learning opportunities in the 2019-2020 school year.

Canon-McMillan High School commits to broaden computer science and STEM education access to all students in grades 9-12 through a Computer Science Club. The club will focus on both after- and in-school learning with physical computing devices, coding projects in multiple programming languages, and industry field trips and school visits.

The Mon Valley School of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit commits to making computer science accessible to students with severe cognitive and emotional disabilities who cannot be serviced in their home districts. Mon Valley School will provide training to educators and present at events across Pennsylvania to encourage and support all schools as they strive to make computer science accessible to students with disabilities.

The City of Pittsburgh commits to creating coding opportunities for members of the community available at city recreation centers.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information commits to hosting a summer camp for middle school and high school students to learn about computer science and coding.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh commits to:

• Offering early learning coding opportunities through the Little Learners: Coding Concepts program.
• Offer school-age children access and support in computer science through the All Hands on Tech and Super Science Robotics and Coding programs, which all libraries host at least quarterly.
• Continue offering high-quality computer science activities, programs, and softwares in the Labs Workshop programs for teens.
• Continue to focus on computer science by bringing community partners who have knowledge and resources to share with children and families.
• Hoost Labs Summer Skills Intensives introducing digital skills in a variety of subject areas.
• Continue to introduce new technology like robots and coding toys for children and families to enjoy in our spaces both during programs and other visits to our spaces.

Partner4Work commits to preparing 100 young adults for careers in Information Technology.

TransformED at Allegheny Intermediate Unit commits to:

• Training 90 secondary teachers throughout Western Pennsylvania in Code.org’s CS Discoveries and CS Principles through a regional partnership with Code.org
• Training over 250 high school teachers across Pennsylvania in CMU’s CS Academy curriculum and provide implementation support throughout the school year, made possible through a PA Smart Advancing Grant
• Distributing $100,000 in catalytic grant funding to public school districts in Western Pennsylvania to support the creation and scaling of initiatives focused on increasing equity in computer science and STEAM.
• Providing 80 free STEAM and Computer Science professional development workshops, emphasizing access and equity in classroom integration.
• Creating a series of open-sourced resources focused on Universal Design for Learning and culturally responsive teaching in computer science classrooms, in partnership with the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science and made possible through a PA Smart Advancing Grant.

To learn more about CSforPGH, contact working group lead LaTrenda Leonard Sherrill or register for their next (virtual) meeting on October 31, 2019.