The US Microsoft DigiGirlz Day is a 3-hour virtual event designed to give students in grades 8-12 an introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), learn about social media safety, and gain exposure to careers in technology. This event is Saturday January 30th from 11AM-2PM. No prior experience in computer science will be necessary. Click here to learn more and sign up today!

SciTech Institute™ is excited to announce the 2021 Arizona SciTech Festival season begins Jan. 30 and runs through Feb. 28, marking 10 years of inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) across Arizona. Arizonans of all ages will enjoy fun and engaging events and activities offered during this annual celebration while building their STEM knowledge. Several sessions are computer science focused - click below to learn more about the festival and see a list of computer science related events!

Don’t miss the opportunity to receive a grant for up to $25,000! Public Schools that offer instruction in grades 9 through 12 and seek professional development to train educators to offer a new course(s) in computer science can qualify for up to $25,000. The Computer Science Professional Development (CSPD) grant funding is designed to be used to provide professional development for a high school teacher or teachers to teach a computer science course that is not currently offered at the high school. For example, if High School J offers a Code.org class and would like add a new course in Java scripting, it could apply for funding to use to provide professional development to one or more of its teachers to begin offering the Java course. Or, if High School J does not offer any computer science courses, it could apply for funding to use to provide professional development to one or more of its teachers to begin offering a computer science course. Attached are the Application Rubric and the Guidance Document to assist you with the application process.  Please reach out to Sarah.Sleasman@azed.gov

The CSforEL Project is a new 4-year research project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, to attract, retain and engage English learners (EL) in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) in Arizona, New Mexico, San Diego County, and Orange County. We are currently looking for district and school level participation in The CSforEL Project in terms of relationship and partnership building, data gathering efforts, and conversation with our Evaluation Team Leads to help determine treatment and control schools and to identify schools and teachers to participate in our first PD cohort during the 2021-2022 school year. If you are interested in more information about The CSforEL Project, please contact Erika C. Burt at erika.burt@csteachers.org.

Groups in Arizona were recently awarded an NSF grant to establish the Arizona K-8 Consortium Hub, a network of Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships (RPPs) that will work to integrate computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT) into rural and tribal K-8 education. The Hub will work with practitioners and researchers to establish five regional RPPs across Arizona. The Hub's primary role will be to support regional RPPs logistically (partnership building, grant writing) as well as by developing and implementing an integrated Professional Development (PD) and Professional Learning Community (PLC) platform that builds local capacity. Click here for more information about the grant.