CS4NORTHCAL Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $1,141,464 through the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program (CFDA 47.070) to UC Santa Cruz on October 1, 2025, to scale an evidence-based model for high school computer science (CS) teacher preparation and support across Northern California. The CS4NORTHCAL project, a research-practice partnership involving San Francisco State University, WestEd, and over 20 school districts, will deliver three primary services: (1) scaling a CS teacher certification program and professional development to increase the number of authorized high school CS teachers; (2) expanding Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for newly certified teachers to provide continuous professional learning on CS curricula and pedagogical strategies; and (3) establishing and scaling a mentorship program offering ongoing support to newly certified teachers to improve retention and skill development. Over the project period (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026), these initiatives will serve approximately 200 teachers and support over 25,000 high school students.

WestEd, a key sub-awardee, will conduct design-based research to investigate how to effectively design and modify supplementary authorization courses and PLCs to prepare teachers of varying disciplinary and geographic backgrounds to teach high school CS equitably. The strategies and findings generated through this project are designed to have broad national applicability, as school districts across the country face comparable challenges in expanding their CS education offerings while ensuring equitable access for all students.