CSTA curates quality professional learning opportunities for K-12 computer science teachers. We aim to make it easy for CS teachers who have different needs and goals to find relevant PD opportunities through an interactive web display. We also display information about associated curriculum alongside the PD opportunities.
We publish an updated list of quality programs approximately each quarter. Teachers can filter opportunities based on their grade level, experience level, course alignment, cost, and mode of delivery (e.g., online or in-person), and they can search more specific criteria. They can click a card to view more detailed information about PD and the associated curriculum and visit the program website.
Quality PD Indicators
An independent committee of experts evaluates submissions using a detailed rubric aligned to indicators of quality computer science PD from Vallaincourt & Schanzer (2018) and elements of effective teacher PD from Darling-Hammond, Hyler, & Gardner (2017):
- Content Focus
- Active Learning
- Collaboration
- Differentiation
- Models & Modeling
- Inclusivity
- Accessibility
- Feedback & Reflection
- Efficacy
- Ongoing Support
- Sustained Duration
Our goal is not to “measure” PD, but rather to define a minimum level of quality and give providers multiple dimensions by which to demonstrate it.
Review Process
- Any provider can submit one or more programs for review at no cost by submitting an online form.
- Three or more committee members independently review each submission using a rubric aligned to indicators of quality PD.
- The committee discusses outstanding discrepancies and conducts additional reviews as needed.
- All submissions meeting the minimum threshold as defined by the committee will be included in the display.
- Co-chairs communicate results and feedback to providers.
- All accepted programs must submit for reaccreditation every two years.
More information about the accreditation process and trends from the reviews are shared in a SIGCSE 2022 paper: Trends in CS Teacher Professional Development: A Report from the CSTA PD Committee.
Submission Deadlines
We welcome PD opportunity submissions nine months out of the year. This year, the submission form will be closed from May 1 to July 31, 2024 to allow the PD Committee time to revise the accreditation rubric and process; an updated submission form will be available by early August 2024. The PD Committee conducts five reviews during the year, with the following submission deadlines:
- August 31, for publishing by September 30
- October 31, for publishing by November 30
- January 3, for publishing by January 31
- February 29, for publishing by March 31
- April 30, for publishing by May 31
Committee
The CSTA PD committee includes a diverse and esteemed group of experts who independently develops and maintains a trusted list of quality PD opportunities that are driven by the needs of CS teachers. Committee members include teachers, teacher supporters (e.g., administrators, coaches), researchers, and PD providers. In addition to reviewing submissions, the committee will also continuously improve the process and display, research and report on trends among current opportunities, and provide guidance for and community among PD providers.
Co-Chairs
- Jared O’Leary, JaredOLeary.com (host of #CSK8 podcast); previously: BootUp
- Lea Sloan, CodeHS
- James Koontz, West Springfield ES / Fairfax County Public Schools (chair emeritus)
Members
- Jennifer Albert, The Citadel
- Elizabeth Bacon, CoderZ
- Deena Crawford, SAM Labs
- Cathleen Edgar, West Bridgewater Middle Senior High School
- Lori Goldade, CodeHS
- Abigail Joseph, Oracle Education Foundation (Board liaison)
- Deborah Kariuki, University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Stephen King, Kansas State Department of Education
- Francesco Maiorana, IISS G.B. Vaccarini
- Carla Neely, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (Board liaison)
- Emily Peña, Happy Camp Elementary
Past Chairs
- Miles Berry, University of Roehampton
- Michelle Friend, University of Nebraska Omaha
- Abigail Joseph, Oracle Education Foundation (chair emeritus)
- Emmanuel Schanzer, Bootstrap World
- Beverly Vaillancourt, PowerUp Design, previously: Zulama
Past Members
- Quiana Bannerman, Prince George’s County Public Schools
- Carol L Fletcher, The University of Texas at Austin
- Michelle Lagos, American School of Tegucigalpa
- Katie Mills, TreePeople; previously: USC Viterbi School of Engineering
- Dawn Morrison, Alabama Department of Education
- Laura Peters, Creative Computing Lab & Boston Public Schools
- Andrea M Robertson-Nottingham, Code.org
- Andrew Rothman, San Francisco Unified School District
- Kim Wilkens, Tech-Girls and UVA School of Education
- Hana Zimmerman Karl, Open University of Israel
If you’d like to join the CSTA PD Committee for a two-year volunteer term, complete the CSTA volunteer application. Applications are open each summer, and new members will be added each fall.