New York K-12 Computer Science Standards

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

NYSED Technology Standards

In 2018, the New York State Education Department formed a group (Authoring Workgroup and Review Panel) to begin drafting new computer science standards. After many iterations of reviews, surveys, feedback, and edits, the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards were granted Conditional Approval in January 2020. The updated, most finalized draft NYS K-12 Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards were approved in December 2020.

DIGITAL LITERACY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE STANDARDS

The new standards focus on five key concepts:

1. Impacts of Computing

2. Computational Thinking

3. Network & System Design

4. Cybersecurity

5. Digital Literacy

Each of the above concepts contain 2 or more sub-concepts, and within the sub-concepts are the NYSED computer science standards. The standards are broken up into the following grade bands: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12. To learn more about NYSEd computer science standards, you can download the grade-banded progression chart or glossary of terms through the New York Department of Education website.

The implementation timeline of these standards gives teachers time to adjust to the updated standards. December 2020-August 2021 is scheduled for “awareness building”. The goal of this phase is to inform teachers and administrators about the New York state standards and the timeline for implementation. The second phase is “capacity building”, taking place September 2021-August 2023. In this phase, teachers should focus on curriculum development, resource acquisition, and professional development. Phase three is “Year 1 Implementation” from September 2023-August 2024, where all credit-bearing Computer Science courses will be aligned with NYS CS&DF Standards. The final phase, “Full Implementation” takes place in September 2024. In this phase, CS&DF Standards will be implemented in all K-12 grade bands.

Computer Science Teaching Certificate

A Computer Science Statement of Continued Eligibility (SOCE) or Computer Science certificate is required to teach computer science in the state of New York after September 1, 2023. The computer science SOCE is available to teachers who meet the validity requirements, application deadline, and SOCE requirements.

VALIDITY

• Valid for 10 years from the date it is issued

• Only valid with the employer where the teacher taught at least one computer science course and was employed when the SOCE was issued

• Not transferable to other school districts, BOCES, or other schools where certification is required

• Teachers who hold the Computer Science SOCE need to earn the Computer Science certificate to continue teaching Computer Science education courses after the SOCE expires

APPLICATION DEADLINE

• Must apply for the Computer Science SOCE in TEACH and pay the application fee on or before September 1, 2023

• The Computer Science SOCE application will be available in TEACH in 2022

SOCE REQUIREMENTS

• Profession or Permanent certificate

• Computer Science Teaching Experience

  • A list of “acceptable computer science courses” can be found on the NYSED website (ex. Intro to Computers, Telecommunications, Microsoft Cert Prof, etc.)

• Workshops

• Fingerprinting

More information regarding the NYSED Computer Science Certification can be found on this page to walk through the specific certification requirements from start to finish.

Computer Science Education Requirements

Now that you have explored the New York state computer science standards and certification requirements, 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! Luckly, 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 events 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 NYSED computer science standards, 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.

Title I

If you are a Title I school in New York, you may consider using your federal funds to purchase computer science curriculum.

WHAT IS TITLE I FUNDING?

Title I funds programming for low-income students. The money must go toward helping these students meet academic state standards. The amount of Title I funding distributed across the nation is available through the DOE website (most recently updated in 2017).

WHAT CAN TITLE I FUNDS BE SPENT ON?

Title I usage is based on the makeup of your student body. If 40% or more of your school’s students come from low-income families, Title I funds must be used on school-wide initiatives. These are known as Title I schools. If less than 40% of your school’s students come from low-income families, Title I funds must be used for programming that targets low-income students. It is important to note that Title I funds must go directly to low-income students, and the programs/materials cannot have been used in other classrooms first.

K 12 Computer Science Curriculum

Ellipsis Education provides full-year K-12 computer science curriculum that aligns with the NYSED computer science standards. 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 Education 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 New York, including Columbia, Cornell, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and NYU, 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 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 series. 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.