Computer Science

Upcoming Opportunities for Educators and Students 

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month 

Keep it Clean with Digital Hygiene – Protect Yourself Online

• CU System and UCCS are hosting a series of cybersecurity hygiene events to help everyone stay ahead of the latest scams and to protect personal information and that of the organizations of which they are a part
  • Tuesday, Oct. 15th: Noon – 1pm MT
    • Cyber Roundtable featuring CU System CISO’s: Phishing, AI, and Protecting Your Data – featuring UCCS’ own Charlie Wertz, UCCS Information Security Officer.  Click Here to Learn More. 
  • Thursday, Oct. 24th: Noon – 1pm MT
    • Cybersecurity Webinar featuring Charlie Marmon, Cybersecurity Advisor at CISA (U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) Click Here to Learn More 

Cybersecurity Educators Workshop for HS Teachers – November 6th and 7th

• Want to teach cyber in your high school classroom, but don’t have the resources? Start here! Using the acclaimed RING Cybersecurity Curriculum, UCCS is offering Colorado high school teachers the opportunity to bring cybersecurity into your classroom. Attend this 2-day training to obtain an overview of all RING cybersecurity curriculum modules which you can then use in your classroom. This training session not only earns you 18 hours of professional development credits, but teaches the curriculum through engaging, hands-on activities. And, you’ll leave the training not only understanding the material, but with the curriculum and activities that you can take back to your classroom. 
  • November 6 – 7, 2024 8am – 4pm MT both days
  • In person (Colorado Springs) or virtual (Zoom) options available
  • Training is free of charge, but participants have to pay their own travel and lodging costs
  • REGISTER NOW for this great cyber training opportunity! Registration closes in October.
  • Questions? Email cyber@uccs.edu

"Get Your Tech On" - In-Person Event Hosted by JeffCO Public Schools

• "Join us to learn more about how you can get your weekend back with ai tools,  create projects that engage students, personalize lessons for your class, and more!"
  • Saturday, November 9, 2024 8:00am to 3:00pm
  • Featuring Keynote Speaker: Alice Keeler
  • FREE Breakfast and Lunch
  • Register Now

STEM Ecosystem & Colorado Association of Science Teachers (CAST) Professional Learning Mini Grant Application

With the support of Colorado Succeeds, these two organizations received funding from the Collaborative for Student Success to support locally run professional learning opportunities for formal and informal science educators across the state. There is funding available for individuals who are members of both organizations to host local professional learning. You can apply for up to $2,000, and must implement the plan by March 2025. Professional learning mini-grants will be awarded in each of the three CAST regions.

• Click here to apply for the mini grant 

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Awards 

"NCWIT (The National Center for Women and Information Technology) is the farthest-reaching network of change leaders focused on advancing innovation by correcting underrepresentation in computing."  "NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) offers four distinct awards that honor aspirations, abilities, technical accomplishments, and influential guidance."

• High School Student Aspirations Award
  • ​"The AiC High School Award honors 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, and non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and future plans. Since 2007, more than 25,000 students have received an AiC Award."
  • Learn about eligibilities, prizes, the application process, and more by clicking here. 
• Educator Aspirations Award
  • "The AiC Educator Award identifies exemplary formal and informal educators who play a pivotal role in encouraging 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, and non-binary students to explore their interests in computing and technology. The award recognizes these educators for their efforts to promote gender equity in computing. Since 2011, more than 500 educators have been recognized and have received more than $225,000 in professional development funding to improve their computing education skills"
  • Learn about eligibilities, prizes, the application process, and more by clicking here. 

Colorado Computer Science Leaders

• Colorado Computer Science and EdTech educators are all invited to attend these quarterly collaborative meetings. 
  • Winter event information coming soon. 

Computer Science Teacher's Association (CSTA CO)

• Join the local chapter, access resources, and join the discussion
• Upcoming Meetings 
  • Meeting #1 - Thursday, October 10, 2024 5:30 - 7:00 pm  RSVP for the event here. 
  • Meeting #2 -  Thursday, November 21th - 5:30 - 7 pm
  • Meeting #3 -  Tuesday, February 11 - 5:30 - 7 pm
  • Meeting #4 -  Thursday, April 17 - 5:30 - 7 pm

Colorado Career and Technical Education (CTE):

• Stay updated with news from CarrieAnn Mathis, M.A.Ed, CTE Program Director for ETMA by joining the mailing list.
• Learn more about Colorado's Career Cluster Model by clicking here.

Colorado Computer Science Events Calendar

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