Thursday, May 9, Cedar Rapids, IA – NewBoCo is extending the application deadline for Iowa teachers to learn how to teach computer science through its Code.org Professional Learning Program to better support teachers now that most school years will end in June due to winter weather.
This will be NewBoCo’s third year offering these professional development programs in Iowa. The 2019-2020 school year is especially noteworthy because Senate File 274 established the goal that, “… by July 1, 2019, each accredited high school offer at least one high-quality computer science course, each accredited middle school offer instruction in exploratory computer science, and each accredited elementary school offer instruction in the basics of computer science.”
So far, more than 300 elementary, middle, and high school educators have participated in one of NewBoCo’s Code.org programs, bringing computer science courses to more than 11,600 students throughout the state during the 2018-2019 school year.
NewBoCo, a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit, will offer three locations (Decorah, Dubuque, Storm Lake) for CS Discoveries (grades 6-10) and two locations (Dubuque, Storm Lake) for CS Principles (grades 9-12) this year. Each location can host up to 32 teachers per cohort. NewBoCo will close applications in late May. To apply, click here.
For K-5 educators, NewBoCo holds 1-day workshops featuring Code.org’s CS Fundamentals curriculum, which can be held anytime during the year and scheduled throughout the state.
If you have questions, contact NewBoCo Director of K-12 Education & Code.org Iowa Program Manager Samantha Dahlby.
Cost & Funding
- The cost for one teacher to be trained is $110 for CS Fundamentals, $2,400 for CS Discoveries, and $2,000 for CS Principles.
- Schools that have already received funding from the Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund from the state can direct those funds to pay for this program.
- Applications for the next round of the Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund are due May 20, 2019.
- There are a limited number of scholarships available from GoDaddy for educators teaching at high-need schools. More information is available in the application.
- For schools that received Computer Science is Elementary grants, NewBoCo’s professional development programs can provide the relevant curriculum and training for the recipients’ implementation plan.
About NewBoCo
The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. NewBoCo’s programming supports entrepreneurship, innovation, and tech education to help Iowans become more resilient and thrive in a changing economy.
About Code.org Iowa Partnership
Through a partnership with Code.org, a national nonprofit, NewBoCo offers professional development workshops to train current teachers how to teach computer science.
Media Contact: Jessalyn Holdcraft, NewBoCo Director of Marketing
jessalyn@newbo.co