CSforDetroit Initiative Aims To Turn K-12 Students Into The Ethical Tech Leaders Of Tomorrow

The CSforDetroit Steering Committee has launched its CSforDetroit initiative – a multi-year initiative to provide year-round computer science learning opportunities for Detroit K-12 students.

The CSforDetroit Steering Committee is a collective of stakeholders in K-12 Computer Science (CS) education assembled to help school communities create a transformative learning experience in CS classrooms.

The Kapor Foundation which works at the intersection of racial justice and technology, and a coalition of stakeholders and organizations will lead the initiative. Other partners include Google.org, Song Foundation, and the CSforALL’s Accelerator Program.

Their goal together is to bring culturally responsive and community-driven computing education in formal and informal spaces.

According to a report, there is a monthly average of 21,062 open computing jobs across Michigan. 

Still, only 6,639 Computer Science graduates are prepared to fill these positions, with only 46% of Michigan high schools currently offering science courses.

The report also shows that Black African-American, Hispanic, and Native American students were less likely to take AP CS Exams – the equivalent of a first-semester course in computer science – than white students.

CSforDetroit Initative

Through the yearly initiative, CSforDetroit aims to invest in programs to ensure rigorous, culturally responsive and community-driven opportunities for K-12 students.

They also aim to empower Detroit’s students to emerge as ethical leaders in tech to build equitable computer systems that reduce discrimination and harm.

“The CSforDetroit initiative has long been overdue to bring equitable computing education to young people in Detroit,” said Dr. Aman Yadav, Lappan-Phillips Professor of Computing Education in the College of Education and College of Natural Science at Michigan State University, in a news release.

Key components of the initiative include supporting Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) to expand computing course offerings.

They will also provide comprehensive, equity-focused professional development and learning opportunities for teachers, administrators, and counsellors in DPSCD.

The initiative will support Detroit-based out-of-school time programs, engaging youth and families in STEM and CS learning opportunities.

They plan to launch the Detroit City-Wide CS student leadership team to amplify student voice and young Detroiters’ position and build community-wide pride in Detroit through history tours, examining Black contributions to STEM in the state.

There will be collaborations with city and state policymakers to promote policies to advance equity and sustainability in CS education in Detroit. 

“This initiative will center youth engagement, Detroit’s history and culture, and tech ethics as core elements of its activities aiming to expand CS education,” said Kalisha Davis, CS Equity Programs Director for the Kapor Foundation, in the news release.