Amazon Donates $15 Million to Code.org to Create New Equity-Minded Advanced Placement Computer Science Curriculum to Help High School Students in Underserved Communities Excel in Tech - Seite 2

“Since its inception, our Amazon Future Engineer program has worked to ensure more students have the resources and skills they need to build their best futures," said Jeff Wilke, former CEO Worldwide Consumer, Amazon. "With our donation to Code.org, we hope that even more students—from a wider variety of backgrounds—will be inspired and prepared to pursue computer science in high school, college, and beyond.”

"We are excited to develop a much-needed AP-level programming curriculum to inspire, engage, and prepare a more diverse population of students in high school computer science,” said Hadi Partovi, CEO and Founder of Code.org. “With our experience of designing CS curricula that break records in student participation and diversity, we are confident of the curriculum’s potential impact, and we are grateful for Amazon’s generous support to make it possible.”

State education leaders in Georgia, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania have pledged to expand AP CSA during the 2021-2022 school year. Code.org will supply the curriculum and professional development workshops needed to offer the curriculum to all participating schools, ensuring all interested students will have a trained teacher to prepare them for the year-end exam administered by the College Board. Additionally, each state has committed to requiring all of its high schools in their states to offer computer science. Teachers and others interested in the program can sign up to receive news and updates as the curriculum development progresses. Code.org will make the new AP CSA curriculum available for all schools nationwide for the 2022-2023 school year.

“The Georgia Department of Education is committed to transforming computer science education from an elective available for a few students, to a foundational educational discipline accessible to all,” said Richard Woods, Georgia State School Superintendent. “This new AP Computer Science A curriculum will be designed to inspire, support, and prepare students from all backgrounds who want to pursue a CS path.”

In addition to working with states, Code.org is forming both an Education Advisory Council—composed of representatives from nonprofits, colleges, and universities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities—and an Industry Advisory Council with representatives from a variety of employers. These councils will provide feedback in the development process to ensure the new AP CSA curriculum best prepares students for the next step in their education and careers.