"Progressing" Toward Computer Science for All: One Approach to Measuring Equity in a Large-Scale District-Wide Computer Science Improvement Initiative

• In Event: Reform – by Any Means Necessary: The Diverse Phases of Change

Abstract

Currently, there is a lack of Black and Latinx student participation in Computer Science (CS). This paper aims to establish an initial measure of a large city’s districtwide Computer Science improvement initiative focused on equity and its progress towards reaching its goals. We rated schools on three measures of progress toward meeting the initiative’s goal that every student receive CS instruction, including participation and disproportionality. Our findings point to steady improvement and also highlight areas of concern, including the number of schools offering CS and disparities in progress towards the initiative’s goals by school level and demographics. Our study demonstrates one improvement approach to measure equity in student participation districtwide, which can be employed in various areas, including STEM.

Authors

• Alexandra Adair, Research Alliance for New York City Schools

• Cheri Fancsali, Research Alliance for New York City Schools

• Kathryn Hill, Research Alliance for New York City Schools