Strengthening Computer Science Teacher Preparation Pathways in Texas
Report from the 2024 Texas Computer Science Educator Preparation Convening
Computer science (CS) education is essential for preparing students for an increasingly technical workforce. Nationally, there is a growing consensus for the need to integrate CS and computational thinking into K–12 education. To ensure that Texas remains competitive, it must expand access to high-quality CS education for more students. Currently, there is an alarming shortage of qualified CS teachers to support expanded access to CS coursework for K–12 students.
The Texas Computer Science Pipeline Initiative aims to improve access, participation, and experiences in K–12 CS education through professional development, infrastructure support, and accountability measures.
In Fall 2024, a convening was held at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) to address the challenges and opportunities in preservice computer science teacher preparation. The event brought together stakeholders from 18 Texas institutions of higher education, including education and computer science faculty and educator preparation program administrators, along with representatives from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).