CS4NorCal is an innovative 5-year regional project sponsored by the California Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) to create K-12 computer science pathways for students in small rural schools.
Through the 2024-2025 school year, CS4NorCal is an opportunity for education leaders from county offices of education, districts and schools to investigate and design implementation models to integrate the California K-12 Computer Science Standards into their educational programs and provide students with access to one of the core subjects of a “well-rounded” education. (Every Child Succeed Act, 2015)
With guidance from the Sacramento County Office of Education, local planning teams will co-design professional learning and school implementation models. Researchers from the University of California at Davis will evaluate the process to inform the refinement of a high-quality product that can be replicated in similar rural communities. Educators will participate in up to 3 years of compensated professional learning and form a regional CS community of practice. Schools will receive access to no-cost, nationally-validated, standards-aligned CS curriculum. Community partners will integrate CS pathways into postsecondary preparation and workforce development initiatives.
What is CS4NorCal?
Who Can Participate?
Is There a Cost to Participate?
SSDA is recruiting school teams from Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta and Siskiyou counties. No prior experience with computer science is necessary! Participating school teams can include teachers, instructional assistants or paraeducators, administrators and counselors.
Some academic year workshops are offered during 2023-24 that can give help orient you to the possibilities around CS instruction. Educators also are welcome to attend monthly virtual community of practice meetings held in conjunction with the Computer Science Teachers Association from 4-5 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month. The last full cohort of CS4NorCal will start in June 2024.
Because CS4NorCal is funded by a federal grant, SSDA will cover costs associated with participation. All professional learning activities -- including summer boot camps, academic year workshops, quarterly communities of practice and ongoing technical assistance -- will be free of charge. Access to all of the nationally validated, standards-aligned curriculum will be provided at no cost or low cost. SSDA will provide stipends to teachers who participate in the project.
This project is funded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program. However, this contents does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
Invitation to Participate
School participation will be staggered over the 5-year project, which supports an innovative approach to design, pilot, refine, expand, and assess a regional approach to CS implementation. In the planning year, project partners (SSDA, SCOE, UC Davis) will work with County Office of Education CS leads to co-design the regional implementation approach. Beginning in 2021-22, the first cohort of schools will pilot the design and continue through the refinement and expansion phases. In subsequent years, a 2nd and 3rd cohort of schools will enter the project refinement and expansion phases. In the final year of the project, 2024-25, the final cohort of schools will have the opportunity to implement a fully refined CS model, and the project team will conduct the final evaluation.
Participating schools and teachers in each cohort will commit to providing computer science instruction, at a minimum of:
Computer science instruction may occur across a variety of experiences and settings (e.g., integrated with math or science, standalone electives or technology class, CTE pathway, extended-day events or summer school). CS pathways also will include work-based learning and college- and career-readiness activities pertaining to computer science.
Planning Year
SSDA partners and COE Steering Committee plan professional learning model and work-based learning and college/ career components
2020-21
Pilot cohort (~45 teachers)
Launch of PD and coaching; CS instruction commences
2021-22
Expansion 1 cohort (~45 teachers)
Second cohort starts PD; initial cohort continues with implementation
2022-23
Expansion 2 cohort (~45 teachers)
Third cohort starts PD; first 2 cohorts continue with implementation
2023-24
Contrast Cohort (~130 teachers)
Contrast cohort receives PD & resources to support CS instruction regional COE assumes role as CS hub
2024-25
For more information about your county’s recruitment process, contact:
For more information about SSDA’s role or the CS4NorCal project in general, contact: Karen Mix,, SSDA Project Co-Director, karen@cs4norcal.org or visit www.cs4norcal.org.
Expectations of Participants
How do I participate?
Complete a CS4NorCal interest survey.