The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Office of Computer Science is pleased to announce its planned expansion of the Computer Science and Computing Educator Academy (CSCEA).

The CSCEA, which began in the summer of 2021, is expanding for the summer of 2022 and will provide another option for Arkansas residents to: 

• Learn basic computer science, which provides a starting point for new teachers to be successful
• Receive preparation for passing the Computer Science Content Knowledge Praxis exam
• Gain approval to teach high school computer science courses
• Earn up to 18 postsecondary graduate-level credits in computer science
• Expand skills in specialized areas aligned to state adopted programs of study

For the summer of 2022, ADE has selected both the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock) and Arkansas Tech University (ATU) in Russellville as public university partners. ATU was the university partner in the summer of 2021 and will continue to support this work in an expanded role of certifying teachers through a traditional programming and computing pathway. UA Little Rock was selected as a second public university partner to help expand the number of certified teachers using a cybersecurity focus. Up to 60 participants for each public university partner will be able to choose their preferred host institution. New participants who are not yet CS certified, will be required to attend, either in person or online, the initial 60 hours of trainings, which will take place on both weeks of June 13-17 and June 20-24, 2022. All Advanced Training options will span the month of July and can be found at: https://csforar.info/PD

The primary 90 hours of training is provided by the ADE Office of Computer Science and consists of 60 hours of content that is designed, and required, for all candidates who have not yet passed the Computer Science Content Knowledge Praxis exam, and 30 hours of advanced level training that varies based on the participant’s interests and needs. Participants may receive 6 hours of graduate-level credits upon successful completion of the primary 90 hours.

New participants, who fully complete the initial 90 hours of training and are awarded the associated 6 hours of graduate-level computer science credit, will be eligible to have tuition and fees covered for up to 12 additional graduate hours of computer science or related credits at their selected public university partner (either ATU or UA Little Rock).

The ADE Office of Computer Science hosted an optional informational webinar for interested participants. Representatives of both UA Little Rock and ATU were present to answer questions and provide additional details about their programs. A recording of this webinar is available at: https://youtu.be/HxgxaV8H72w

Participants from the summer 2021 cohort are invited to complete an additional 12 graduate hours of computer science or related credits at ATU beginning this summer and will also need to apply at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSCEAApp22. 

Only coursework and courses completed by December 31, 2023, will be eligible to be paid for by this program. 

Participant Selection

For the summer 2022 cohort, the CSCEA is restricted to Arkansas residents who are either employed by an Arkansas public school district or intend to teach within an Arkansas public school district and have a letter of support from a Superintendent of an Arkansas Public School District.

Candidate selection may be prioritized based on regional needs, and for districts that are classified as high-poverty.

Interested candidates should read all of the information found on Commissioner's Memo COM-22-032 https://adecm.ade.arkansas.gov/ViewApprovedMemo.aspx?Id=4878.

An overview document about the ATU and UA Little Rock programs will provide information on the difference between the two university partners' plans for participants, can be found at https://csforar.info/22CSCEAPUPInfo.

Interested participants may apply at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSCEAApp22. 

Once approved, applicant information will be forwarded to the point of contact at the assigned public university partner. The institutions will then share information about their graduate school application process and program logistics with assigned participants.