Illinois K-12 Computer Science Standards

Ellipsis Education Computer Science Curriculum is grade-level differentiated, aligns with Illinois state and national computer science standards, and is continually updated to reflect changes in computer science. Since computer science is more than just coding, Ellipsis Education courses include coding, unplugged, digital citizenship, and STEM career lessons as well as hardware integrations.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) adopted computer science standards based on the K-12 Computer Science Framework and the CSTA standards. These Illinois learning standards for CS were published in January 2022.

The first 7 practices listed below were adopted from the K-12 Computer Science Framework. The ISBE added two additional practices to meet the needs of emerging and future technologies. The Illinois computer science practices are:

1. Fostering an inclusive computing culture

2. Collaborating around computing

3. Recognizing and defining computational problems

4. Developing and using abstractions

5. Creating computational artifacts

6. Testing and refining computational artifacts

7. Communicating about computing

8. Analyzing the effects of advancements in computing one’s society, economy, and culture

9. Reflecting on and revising one’s computational thought processes and those of others

Students exercise theses practices through a series of concepts and subconcepts. The practices indicate what the students will do, while the concepts and subconcepts indicate the content that students will learn. The first 6 concepts of the standards were adopted from CSTA. The ISBE added the 7th concept. The concepts are taught by grade band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) and are listed below:

1. Computing Systems

   1. Devices

   2. Hardware and Software

   3. Troubleshooting

2. Networks and the Internet

   1. Cybersecurity

3. Data and Analysis

   1. Collection, Visualization, and Transformation

   2. Storage

   3. Inference and Models

4. Algorithms and Programming

   1. Algorithms

   2. Variables

   3. Control

   4. Modularity

   5. Program Development

5. Impacts of Computing

   1. Culture

   2. Social Interactions

   3. Safety, Law, and Ethics

6. Emerging and Future Technologies

These new Illinois computer science standards are now an ISBE computer science requirement for grades K-12 enacted by Public Act 101-0654. The public act also enforces ISBE graduation requirements for computer science.  By the 2023-2024 school year, students in grades 9-12 must take at least one computer science course in order to graduate.

View the required computer science standards on this Illinois state standards pdf. To help you teach the Illinois standards in your classroom, try this free lesson for grades K-2 or this free lesson for high school

1. Empowered Learner

2. Digital Citizen

3. Knowledge Constructor

4. Innovative Designer

5. Computational Thinker

6. Creative Communicator

7. Global Collaborator

In addition, there are ISTE standards for administrators and teachers. However, the ISTE standards for students described above are the most widely used. You can view the ISTE standards for administrators and the ISTE standards for teachers pdf on the ISTE website.

While ISTE is not a part of the Illinois computer science standards, ISTE standards Illinois does have a partnership with Illinois Digital Educators Alliance (IDEA). It is IDEA’s vision to connect Illinois learning with technology and innovation.

Let’s look at a few examples of how to incorporate ISTE standards. When teaching the area “Creative Communicator” in the classroom, an educator might provide an opportunity to present their ideas by using platforms such as PowerPoint or Google Slides. Another example of teaching creative communication in the classroom could be with a free Ellipsis Education lesson plan about idea generation. Likewise, looking at the area for ISTE computational thinking, students could become engaged with handling data digitally and physically.  For example, learners could conduct surveys, observe the collected data on graphs or spreadsheets, and analyze their findings. For more ISTE standards for students lesson plans, explore more free Ellipsis Education computer science lesson plans.

Computer Science Education Requirements

Now that you have explored the Illinois state computer science standards and understand the basics of computer science education, how can you get started? Perhaps you are new to teaching computer science and don’t know how to begin to focus your efforts. Perhaps you do have some experience and knowledge of the basics, but struggle with a curriculum progression that makes sense for your students. The pressure is on to deliver computer science knowledge to students that may know more than you! Luckily, there are a few baseline requirements that can help you create a computer science implementation plan.

The first part of your computer science implementation plan is your teachers. Finding passionate educators that will engage and learn alongside students is essential. Good news: your teachers do not have to have experience with computer science. Programming languages that come and go; there will always be something new on the horizon. One of the benefits of studying computer science is that having a strong foundation in certain concepts will be relevant for all languages and most applications going forward. Success in computer science is much more than just coding. It’s being a problem-solver, thinking critically, and having the ability to collaborate effectively with peers. Seeking growth in those essential skills is just as applicable for teachers as it is for students. There are many organizations that offer free educational events and communities for teachers interested in computer science. Furthermore, Ellipsis Education offers free professional development webinars that dive into different computer science subject areas.

Next, choose a curriculum that aligns with your school’s unique instructional strategy for computer science. There are multiple things to consider here.

1. Standards alignment: You want to align with the Illinois science standards for CS, which includes determining which lessons cover the standards, when they will be taught, and generating the alignment documentation.

2. Pacing: You want to establish fidelity of instruction across class periods, classrooms, and grade levels. You want a consistent curriculum for your teachers and students that is tailored to your scheduling needs.

3. Assessment methods: Students learn and demonstrate knowledge differently, so you want multiple ways to gain insight into your classroom, including summative and formative assessments.

4. Lesson plans: You want to make sure that lessons within the curriculum are scaffolded and paced to deliver student outcomes, and empower teachers to create an engaging student experience.

Finally, reflect on the values of teaching computer science. Our students are the most important consideration in any new program. You want to engage them, surprise them, and teach them the skills they need for their future. It is powerful to give students the opportunity to see a project come to life before their eyes. Enjoy watching your future computer science experts discover their potential!

Underneath “Related Articles” on this page, you can find other teaching computer science articles to help you on your journey.

K 12 Computer Science Curriculum

Ellipsis Education provides full-year K-12 computer science curriculum that aligns with the Illinois K-12 computer science standards. In addition, all Ellipsis Education courses have been awarded the ISTE Seal of Alignment. This seal means Ellipsis Education aligns with the ISTE standards and provides a high-quality, standards-aligned learning experience that enhances students’ digital age skills. The curriculum offers grade level differentiated learning pathways, aligns with all state and national computer science standards, and is continually updated to reflect changes in computer science. Ellipsis Education courses are customized to districts’ unique instructional strategy for computer science integration. This can mean incorporating computer science into an existing class period, adding to a specials rotation, or introducing a stand alone class. Courses are delivered with instructional resources teachers need to feel confident teaching computer science in K-12.

Our computer science curriculum for K-2 empowers you to engage your students with courses that fuel their interest. Coding lessons use ScratchJr, an introductory block coding language, perfect for emergent and early readers. In grades 3-5, inspire your students with courses that spark their creativity. Coding lessons use Scratch, a block based coding language, ideal for the transitional and fluent reader.

Our computer science curriculum middle school (6-8) helps you motivate your students with courses that connect to their world. Coding lessons use line based languages JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Java to explore programming options.

Our computer science high school curriculum (9-12) helps you empower your students with courses that expand their skills. Coding lessons use JavaScript, Java, Python, and Godot to develop websites, programs, and games.

Explore our full K-12 computer science education course offering on our courses page. If any of these course options interest you, schedule a 30 minute call with one of our curriculum experts. Find the curriculum that will support every teacher as they inspire every student.

Computer Science Degree

After being introduced to computer science curriculum in K-12, students may be inspired to continue their computer science education. On a professional level, companies are recruiting for computer science degree jobs in cloud computing, app development, and statistical analysis. On an individual level, computational thinking, problem solving, and relationship building are all deeply influenced by computer science. This understanding of computer science jobs leads to much broader applications. you don’t necessarily need a degree in computer science; anyone that uses technology to solve problems can be considered a computer scientist!

Introducing computer science in the K-12 experience opens doors for students to pursue a computer science degree in college. The top computer science colleges in Illinois, including University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and University of Illinois, offer concentrations in various areas of computer science, like computer information systems, information technology, computer software and applications, and computer systems networking. The reality is, though, students do not need to attend a top university to pursue these computer science majors. Even non-STEM majors, like business, biology, and English use computer science skills to communicate ideas.

Likewise, computer science skills taught in K-12 can be applied directly to any career students pursue after high school. Computational thinking, problem solving, and teamwork can be applied in trades (like electrician, plumber, and HVAC) and other positions (like retail, restaurants, and reception).

Ellipsis Education spotlights the many forms of computer science careers in our My STEM Career podcast. In these interviews, hear from professionals, students, and teachers as they share how they built confidence in their computer science skills. Two particularly interesting interviews include Will Muto, a Product Technical Director at Industrial Light and Magic, who worked on Star Wars films, and Alia Enos, Software Developer II at 343 Industries, who works on the Halo video game series. In addition, Ellipsis Education offers free STEM career lessons, including this one that aligns with Illinois high school science standards.