Computer Science

Computer Science News and Updates

Computer Science Standards Review and Revisions:

• Public comment is now closed for the proposed revisions to the Colorado Academic Standards for Computer Science. The Colorado Academic Standards Revision Committee is currently reconvening to address public comments and make final revisions to their drafts before the committee chair, Bobbie Bastian presents the final recommendations to the Colorado State Board of Education at their April meeting.  If you have any questions, please contact Samantha Messier, Director of Standards and Instructional Support, at messier_s@cde.state.co.us. 
• The State Board of Education will review public feedback on both the K-8 and 9-12 draft computer science standards at their April meeting. 

Upcoming Opportunities for Educators and Students 

• CSTA CO   Next Meeting: April 16, 2024  5:30-7:30 PM MST 
• CTE: Stay updated with news from CarrieAnn Mathis, M.A.Ed, CTE Program Director for ETMA by joining the mailing list. 
• Colorado Computer Science Leaders Meeting: More Information Coming Soon...

• June 3-7, 2024
  • CSU Summer Cybersecurity Camp  
    • ​Cost: Free  
    • Audience: High School Students 
    • Applications Due April 15th 
• ​​April 20, 2024 
  • ​Colorado School of Mines:  2024 Mines High School Programming Competition
    • Register your in-person team using this link
    • Audience: High School Students 
    • Find out more by clicking on this link
• April 27, 2024  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Colorado School of Mines: High School CTF (Capture the Flag) Competition 
    • Cost: Free (Lunch Included) 
    • Audience: High School Students 
    • Register here for this event
• April 29, 2024  9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Building K12 Cyber Across Colorado: an EPNC Educators' Event 
    • Location: UCCS Kevin W. O’Neil Cybersecurity Education & Research Center & Online via Zoom
    • Register here for this event

Summer Opportunities 2024

• June 7, 2024
  • Rock CS: Rocky Mountain Computer Science Conference for P-12 Educators
    • In-Person
    • Audience: Educators
    • Cost: Registration Fee 
      • $55 Early Bird (Register by April 15)
        $65 Full Price (Register by May 15)
      • To qualify, you must: 
        • Be a member of CSTA (Basic or +) and CSTA Colorado
        • Be a current PreK-12 teacher
        • Participate in our CSTA CO discussion board
        • Click here to apply for the scholarship   
• June 23- 26, 2024  
  • 4 Corners Summit Computer Science Convening: A three-day event focusing on computer science education for Indigenous students in Durango, CO
    • In-Person: Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO 
    • Audience: Educators
    • Cost: Coming soon
• June 22-26, 2024
  • ISTE Live 2024 Conference: "Scale to new heights with hundreds of sessions that will bring you up to speed on the latest learning strategies and edtech trends"   
    • In-Person and Virtual Options
    • Pre-Conference Regional Programming on June 22, 2024 supported by  InnEdCO
      • Call for Presenters
    • Audience :Educators
    • Cost: Registration Fee 
• Girls Who Code Summer Programs: Participants learn the computer science skills they need to make an impact, gain invaluable insight into diverse tech careers, and connect with inspiring figures in the field.  
  • Summer Immersion Program (Virtual) 
    • Applications Now Open! Register Today
    • Cost: FREE 
    • Audience - Grade 9-12 Students
  • Self-Paced Program (Virtual) 
    • Applications Now Open! Register Today
    • Cost: FREE 
    • Audience - Grade 9-12 Students
• July 16-19, 2024
  • CSTA Annual Conference: "As a computer science teacher, you are often the only one in your building, or maybe even in your district. There is a whole community of computer science educators just like you out there. Connect with the world’s largest CS department at the CSTA 2024 Annual Conference, set for July 16–19, 2024, in Las Vegas!"
    • In-Person: Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Audience: Educators
    • Cost: Registration Fee

Computer Science Teacher Education Grant Program

The window for the Computer Science Education Grant for the 2023-2024 fiscal year opened in October 2023 and the application window closed in November 2023.  Grantees were awarded in January 2024, approved by the Colorado State Board of Education.  This competitive grant was the first to be hosted in CDE's new grant management software called GAINS.  To learn more about this program, visit our Computer Science Teacher Education Grant page. 

2023-2024 Computer Science Teacher Education Grantees

CDE is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023-2024 Computer Science Teacher Education Grant.  

• Bayfield 10 Jt-R
• Branson Reorganized 82
• Colorado River BOCES
• East Central BOCES
• Greeley 6
• Jefferson County R-1
• Meeker RE-1
• Mesa County Valley 51
• Montrose County RE-1J
• Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy
• Poudre R-1
• Pueblo City 60
• Roaring Fork RE-1
• Widefield 3

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Computer Science Standards

During the 2016 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill 16-1198 requiring CDE to develop voluntary academic standards for computer science for secondary students. The Colorado State Board of Education approved the standards on 4/11/18. 

Colorado Academic Standards for Computer Science Are Currently in Review and Revision. 

Colorado House Bill 20-1032 (section 22-7-1005(6) C.R.S.) amended the provision that required the regular review and revision of the Colorado Academic Standards. The statute previously required the revisions to occur within six years of the prior cycle which occurred in 2018. The changes now require the state board to review and revise approximately one-third of the standards beginning in 2022 and an additional one-third every two years thereafter. These review and revision cycles are not intended to re-write the standards, but to update them to be most current with national and international benchmarks.

It is understood that the 2020-21 school year is the first year of implementation of the standards that were revised in 2018. One-third of the standards that were adopted in 2018 began the review and revision cycle in the spring of 2021 and concluded in the fall of 2022.

• Colorado Computer Science Standards
• Click here to access the Computer Science Standards Review and Revision Page

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Computer Science Resource Bank

The online Computer Science Resource Bank was created through a collaboration with educators and industry experts. Authorized by the legislature in 2017, the online resource bank includes a wide variety of ideas for teachers, including sample curricula and materials – even information about scholarships for students.

This FREE resource has a search feature that allows you to search by resource type, topic area and grade level. Additional resources include computer science organizations and associations as well as partners. 

For further assistance, please contact Pam Lewis Lewis_P@cde.state.co.us