Scaling Certification Incentives and Professional Development to Increase Equitable Access to Qualified Computer Science Teachers

• In Event: 77.037 - Dilemmas and Promising Practices for STEM Teaching

Abstract

A significant barrier to equitable access to computer science (CS) education for K-12 students is the lack of certified CS teachers. Increasing the number of CS teachers is prerequisite to improving equity in access to CS education. This study investigated the impact of a large-scale program to recruit and train new CS teachers. Results of an interrupted time series analysis showed a significant, positive change in the rate in which the number of certified CS teachers increased during the period of time following the start of the intervention compared to the period before the intervention. Because this intervention was implemented at scale, the results of this study hold important implications for efforts to increase equitable access to CS education.

Authors

• Jayce R. Warner, The University of Texas at Austin

• Carol Fletcher, The University of Texas at Austin

• Ryan Torbey, The University of Texas at Austin

• Lisa Garbrecht, The University of Texas at Austin