1. CSTANJ Computer Science Teachers Association of NJ
What is happening in Computer Science Education in New Jersey?
June 14, 2018 CS Chairs Meeting

2. Mayra Bachrach Lecturer at Kean University
Computer Science and Robotics teacher at Glen Ridge HS
Involved with Computer Science Advocacy on a local and state level:
CSTANJ
CSNJ
CSALT

3. CSTANJ
CSTANJ’s goal is to enhance CS Education by promoting communication through a network of CS Educators from K through College.
CSTANJ hopes to provide opportunities for discussions, collaboration, professional development, and advocacy work.

4. Resources, Chapter Links, Etc.
CSTA in New Jersey
CSTANJ
CSTANNJ
Northern @
Kean / Drew
CSTACNJ
Central @
Rutgers / Princeton
CSTASNJ
Southern
@ Stockton
CSNJ
Advocacy
CSTANJ.org
Resources, Chapter Links, Etc.
Working on updating

5. 2018 A year of transition and growth for Computer Science Education in New Jersey Where are we and how did we get here?

6. Creating a common vision for CS Education in New Jersey

7. CS Summit on 5/18 at Rutgers:
Close to 150 participants
Governor’s Office
NJDOE
NJ 4-year Universities and Colleges
Community colleges
Industry partners
Non-profit educational organizations
Over 50 K-12 schools

8. Every student should have the opportunity to study computer science.

9. Data from College Board via Barbara Ericson
APCS in NJ
Good news
and
Bad news
Data from College Board via Barbara Ericson
(It is getting better!!)

10. 7 year summary in New Jersey
AP Computer Science A Test
7 year summary in New Jersey
2010
2017
% Growth
# of students tested
942
3591
281%
# of schools offering AP CS
136
207
52%
# of females tested
156
854
447%
# of black students tested 22
124
463%
# of Hispanic students tested 53
344
549%
400,000 hs students
Data from:

11. New Jersey APCSP Results 2017
# of students tested
1641
# of schools offering AP CSP
102
# of females tested
520
# of black students tested 63
# of Hispanic students tested
224
APCSP higher than APCS A
Passing %
% females
% minorities
400,000 hs students
Data from:

12. New Jersey Statistics on APCS exam
27% of the high schools in NJ offer APCS
219 High Schools offer APCS
(511 public + ~300 private)
1.3% of the high school students in NJ took APCS
5232 total APCSA + APCSP exams
~400,000 HS students in NJ
UPDATE

13. APCS National Ranking NJ ranking for 2017 APCS A APCSP
# test taken #4 #9
# per 100,000 population
#2 #9
UPDA

14. New Jersey Statistics on AP exam
The number of APCS test takers is growing at nearly 6 times faster than the number of schools offering APCS.
This means that those with the opportunities are taking advantage of those opportunities, but most students in the state don’t have the opportunity.

15. Legislation and NJDOE
“Access to CS Education has become the social justice issue of the 21st century. The way to get people out of poverty is to give them access to privileged skills.”
Chris Stevenson
Former CSTA Executive Director

16. NJ Department of Education
Esther Lewars
Educational Technology Specialist at NJDOE - Focusing on Computer Science

17. Standards Computational Thinking : Computer Programming
Added to the Technology Standards 8.2.E
October 2014
Making NJ one of the first states with CS standards
Very basic, but a good start

18. CS Standards Arkansas is leading the way in CS Education … by far.
At summit 16 states - now 19
Arkansas is leading the way in CS Education … by far.

19. A3440 / S2030
The Department of Education shall undertake a review of the Core Curriculum Content Standards to ensure that they incorporate modern computer science standards where appropriate.
Signed by the Governor Christie on January 19, 2016
Working with NJDOE to adopt revised standards based on CSTA standards and K-12 Framework.
Process is currently put on hold during transition

20. A2597 / S2161
Advanced Placement computer science course to satisfy a part of the total credit requirement in mathematics.
Signed by the Governor on January 19, 2016

21. A2597 / S2161

22. A2873/ S2487
Requires all high schools in NJ to offer computer science class by 2018/19
Signed by Governor Christie in January 2018
New Jersey is one of 11 states to require all high schools to offer Computer Science.

23. A2193 / S1816 Creates a computer science teaching endorsement.
Key legislators:
Sen Diegnan, Sen Ruiz,
Asm Singleton, Asw Egan Jones
CSNJ worked with Rutgers, Kean, TCNJ, Rowan, Richard Stockton and Ramapo to create a proposal for a CS endorsement in 2014.
Changes had to be made to satisfy other organizations.

24. A2193 / S1816 Summary In addition to a certification in another area
Recommendation, not requirement at first
No more than 15 credits
Provides a path for those currently teaching CS.
Last Session - Passed Senate and Assembly
but vetoed by Governor Christie
Reintroduced this session
Passed Assembly 3/26/18 (76-0)
Passed Senate Education Committee 5/14/18 (5-0)
Ammended in Senate 6/7/18

25. A2193 / S1816
27 states have some sort of Computer Science Teacher Licensing, Certification or Endorsement
Educational Testing Service (ETS) is currently working on a Computer Science Praxis exam that should be released in September 2018.

26. Governor Murphy supports CS
Proposed “Computer Science for All” initiative during his campaign
Included $2 million in his budget proposal for CS Education
Discussed the need for a State CS Action Plan
Encouraging him to join GovernorsForCS

27. What to do now? Pass bill for CS Teaching Endorsement
Create a NJ State CS Action plan
Fund professional development
Revise CS standards
Communicate and work together to create a common vision of CS4NJ

28. What can Colleges and Universities Do?
Develop Teacher Preparation Programs for pre-service and in-service teachers
Establish collaboration between Schools of Education and Schools of Computer Science
Collaborate with other NJ Universities and Colleges in support of K-12 CS Education
Offer Professional Development workshops

29. Feel free to contact me at
Thank you!
Feel free to contact me at