CAREER: Computer Science Education State Supervisors: Toward Support for All

Arizona State University, Scottsdale AZ

Investigators

Abstract

Arizona State University will investigate a key lever in K-12 computer science (CS) pathways - - the position of the CS education state supervisor (CSEdSS) housed at state education agencies (SEA). Since 2016, K-12 computer science (CS) education policy work has accelerated through various intermediary organizations, state legislatures, governors, and national organizations. There continues to be tremendous work around expanding K-12 CS and artificial intelligence (AI) education policy and there is the need to ensure that these investments reach all students. There is a need to take into account pre-K through workforce needs. State education agencies (SEAs) are instrumental to building strong K-12 CS learning pathways, often through a combination of teacher training, resource development, teacher certification pathways, community outreach, and administrator support. This CAREER project will study CSEdSS and ensure CS educational pathways across schools and districts within states inform the development of research-based resources and tools to support CSEdSS as they enact their roles. This project examines how the national policy of creating a state CSEdSS position at SEAs is enacted. Surveys, interviews, observations, focus groups, and documents will be used to explore how CSEdSS operationalize and enact their roles to build CS educational pathways within their states. The specific aims of this study build on one another: 1) conduct a landscape study of K-12 CSEdSS that will inform selection of four states 2) conduct a comparative case study of CSEdSS in four states to illuminate the mediators, drivers, and outputs of CSEdSS; and 3) develop a toolkit and set of resources to support CSEdSS in their role to build a strong CS and AI pipeline. This project contributes to how research, policy, and practice can work together to advance students outcomes in CS, including AI, by (a) advancing the implementation of CS education policies; (b) framing CS education policy research that considers both the national landscape and variance in local context; (c) operationalizing CSEdSS role; and (d) developing a system of support for CSEdSS nationally. This work lies at the intersection of policy, practice, and research, while working in partnership with non-profit organizations, state departments of education and policymakers to advance CS education solutions that work across states. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.