Collaborative research: supporting high-quality high school computer science courses in milwaukee by strengthening teacher content knowledge

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Information and Intelligent Systems awarded $492,074 to American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program (CFDA 47.070) on August 1, 2025, for a three-year collaborative research project. This award supports the development and implementation of the CS Bootcamp Experience, a professional learning program designed to strengthen high school computer science (CS) teachers' content knowledge and pedagogical practices in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). The program will be adapted from an existing Marquette University CS bootcamp course and aligned to the Exploring Computer Science curriculum, combining CS content modules with monthly professional learning community meetings and classroom coaching support for a cohort of 15 MPS teachers over two school years.

The project employs design-based implementation research methodology to iteratively improve the CS Bootcamp Experience while generating evidence of its impact on student outcomes using the Capacity, Access, Participation, and Experience (CAPE) framework. Learning Partnership LLC, designated as a sub-grantee beginning September 22, 2025, will provide data collection, analysis, and external evaluation services. Through these coordinated efforts, the project aims to enhance CS learning experiences for MPS high school students and better prepare them for college and career pathways in computer science and related fields.

Abstract

To provide high-quality high-school computer science (CS) education experiences for every student in the nation, there is a critical need to develop professional learning programs to support teachers?many of whom did not receive CS instruction in their own educational experiences?to learn CS content and pedagogy. The american institutes for research and marquette university (MU), in collaboration with milwaukee public schools (MPS) and the learning partnership, will develop an innovative professional learning program for high school teachers called the CS bootcamp experience. The CS bootcamp experience will be aligned to the widely used exploring computer science curriculum and combine CS content modules with monthly professional learning community meetings and classroom coaching support. By supporting MPS teachers to strengthen their CS content knowledge and teaching practices, this project will support more MPS high school students to have strong CS learning experiences and better prepare them to use CS in a variety of college and career pathways and to address challenges in their communities. The objectives of the csforall high school strand research-practice partnership are to (a) adapt an existing MU CS bootcamp course to create the CS bootcamp experience; (B) implement the CS bootcamp experience across 2 school years with a cohort of 15 MPS teachers, gathering feedback to inform improvements; and (C) generate evidence of the bootcamp?S effect?and, thereby, the potential effect of teacher CS content knowledge supports?on outcomes in MPS aligned with the capacity, access, participation, experience (CAPE) framework for promoting CS education. The project team will use design-based implementation research to support iterative improvements of the CS bootcamp experience. In addition to gathering direct feedback from teachers, the project will also monitor implementation of the exploring computer science (ECS) curriculum and periodically assess teachers? And students? Content knowledge, teachers? Self-efficacy for teaching CS, and students? Attitudes about CS. The project team will continually reflect on these data, using them to gain insight into the impact of the CS bootcamp experience on students and teachers and to inform iterative improvements. The project will have direct impact on 15 MPS teachers and 600 MPS students, improving their CS teaching and learning experiences. The CS bootcamp experience may also serve as a model for other districts for improving their teaching and implementation of ECS, potentially leading to strong CS learning experiences for high school students across wisconsin and the nation. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.