Clear Lake chosen for computer science grant

by Marianne Gasaway

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced the Clear Lake School District is one of 23 in the state to be awarded a Computer Science Grant.  Due to a state appropriation of $500,000, selected Iowa school districts and schools will be able to bolster their computer science teacher workforce.

Superintendent Doug Gee said the Clear Lake School District will receive just over $20,000 from the program.

“We are going to use the Computer Science Grant money to expand our code.org and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Computer Science classes by getting our teachers trained in those areas,” explained Gee.  “We will now have three PLTW Computer Science classes in the high school and expand our coding classes at all levels.  We will also be sending some teachers to a Bootstraps workshop and the ISTE Creative Innovators Lab Training to pick up ways to work on implementing computer science in the classrooms and get students excited about computer science.”

Grant monies will also be used to purchase code.org Fundamentals supplies.

“This is a great way for districts to get funding to send teachers to get training to help support school as they continue to expand computer science in their schools.  We also plan to expand our Gateway offerings in our middle school,” added Gee.

The funding is part of a broader effort by the State to expand computer science education across the state.  The effort aligns with the Future Ready Iowa initiative, which is about preparing more Iowans for rewarding, high-demand jobs and getting employers the skilled workers they need.

“This investment provides students with the tools they need to excel within a 21st century digital economy,” said Gov. Reynolds.  “Teaching computer science and other STEM-related courses is an essential component to any child’s education.  That’s why Iowa is preparing our young people for success in cutting-edge careers with programs like this.”

The Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund, along with voluntary state

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wide computer science standards, where established as part of legislation signed into law in 2017.  SF 274 supports the state’s effort to provide high-quality computer science instruction in every elementary, middle and high school.  Schools will use the incentive fund to pay for professional learning or university coursework for teaching endorsements in computer science.

The incentive fund drew 31 applications representing 39 public school districts and nonpublic schools in urban, rural and suburban parts of the state.  One application represented a team of elementary, middle and high schools within Great Prairie Area Education Agency in southeast Iowa.

Award recipients will report on their progress by the end of the 2019-20 school year.

“This is a great opportunity for schools to develop teachers in a big-demand field,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise.  “Strong computer science instruction is critical in ensuring our students are future ready when they graduate from high school.”

In addition to Clear Lake, award recipients are: Bondurant-Farrar Community School District, Cedar Falls Community School District, Central Decatur Community School District, Durant Community School District, Earlham Community School District, Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District, Great Prairie Area Education Agency (a collaboration with Central Lee, North Mahaska, Cardinal, Pekin, Fort Madison K-8, Centerville, Fairfield, Waco and Keokuk), Louisa-Muscatine Community School District, Marshalltown Community School District, Mason City Community School District, MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District, Spirit Lake Community School District, Storm Lake Community School District, and Wake Community School District.

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