With winter break just around the corner, 2017 will be here before you know it! That means now is the time to start making your CS plans for January and WeTeach_CS wants you to start the year off right by marking your calendars now with these events and deadlines that are going to be coming up after we all return from the holidays.
January 5 – Teacher applications open for Code.org Professional Learning Programs
On January 5th, Code.org will begin taking applications from teachers to participate in Computer Science Discoveries (Middle School) and Computer Science Principles (High School) Professional Learning Programs. Each program includes training and curriculum CS teachers can put to use in the classroom. More information
January 9 – 2017 Grant Program RFA Due
The WeTeach_CS Program at UT Austin’s Center for STEM Education is now accepting applications for Computer Science Collaboratives in Texas. The purpose of this RFA is to solicit grant applications from eligible organizations to implement programs that improve the computational thinking and academic achievement in computer science students through partnerships among institutions of higher education, local education agencies, elementary schools, and secondary schools. More information
January 16 – Foundations of Computer Science for Teachers
This 6-week online course, beginning January 16, 2017, is designed to help participants prepare for the TExES Grades 8-12 Computer Science Certification exam in Texas. The course provides extensive detailed instruction, examples and practice on everything from introductory programming topics such as variables, functions, loops and logical expressions to more advanced topics such as data structures, recursion, and object oriented programming. More information / Registration
January 19-21 – Texas STEM Conference
Early Bird Registration Deadline – January 6
The 2017 Texas STEM Conference, being held in Dallas on January 19-21, will kick-off its 10th year with a CS-heavy slate of pre-conference short courses on Thursday morning. The pre-conference will offer attendees their choice of 16 three hour sessions, 12 of which are CS education related. We’re thrilled that the Texas STEM Coalition has chosen to make CS education such important part of this year’s conference, but that’s not even the best part. Attendees who register before December 15, 2016 will not only receive the conference early-bird rate, but they will also receive access to the pre-conference at no additional cost. More information
January 23-24 – WeTeach_CS Certification Prep Face-to-Face, Houston
WeTeach_CS Certification Prep will provide an overview of the educator competencies required of all teachers to become certified in Grades 8-12 Computer Science. This certification is necessary to teach courses such as Computer Science I, II or III, Fundamentals of Computer Science, or AP Computer Science A. Course instructors will address several competencies in depth and link attendees to additional resources that will help to prepare them to take the TExES CS 8-12 Certification Test. More information / Registration
January 26 – Certification Incentive Program (CIP) Application Deadline for February testing window
Teachers planning to take the TExES CS 8-12 Certification Test during the February testing window may be eligible for for the Certification Incentive Program (CIP), which offers a $1000 stipend to accepted teachers who obtain their CS certification. For complete information about deadlines and requirements, please read and follow all steps of the CIP Checklist. Texas teachers must meet eligibility requirements and be accepted to the program prior to testing to qualify for the $1,000 stipend. More information
Updated December 15, 2016 – WeTeach_CS has extended the Certification Incentive Program (CIP) through August 2017.