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Please see individual pages for upcoming WORKSHOPS & EVENTS for format (in-person or virtual). If it is unsafe and/or unallowable to host in-person trainings, we will transition to virtual workshops. Best browser to register: CHROME.

WeTeach_CS Rural Certification Collaborative Application 2023

The WeTeach_CS Rural Certification Collaboratives consists of in-service educators from rural communities that will work together to deepen their CS content knowledge in order to challenge and pass the CS 8-12 TExES 241 exam.

Students living in rural areas are less likely to attend schools that offer computer science (CS) courses largely because educational institutions in these remote areas lack the resources to staff teaching positions for these courses. 

Thanks to the generous support of Jobs for the Future and the US Department of Education, the WeTeach_CS Rural Certification  Collaborative will consist of in-service teachers who will work within a community of practice as together they deepen their CS content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and equitable strategies and be supported to obtain their high school CS teacher certification.  The application process for this program consists of completing the information below. All information in the application form must be filled in completely, as the information is necessary for reporting purposes.

Participants will be notified of acceptance as soon as they are selected.  Space is very limited, therefore completing the application process does NOT guarantee placement in the program.

Applicants must attend the spring, summer AND fall institutes which are scheduled for the dates below:

  1. Applications Open - March 8, 2023
  2. Application Deadline - April 21, 2023
  3. Acceptance/Denial Notification - April 18, 2023
  4. Program Orientation - May 1, 2023
  5. Introduction to Programming Course (VIRTUAL)
    1. May 8, 2023 - 7:00-8:00pm
    2. May 10, 2023 - 7:00-8:00pm
    3. May 15, 2023 - 7:00-8:00pm
    4. May 17, 2023 - 7:00-8:00pm
    5. May 22, 2023 - 7:00-8:00pm
    6. May 24, 2023 - 7:00-8:00pm
  6. Foundations to CS for Teachers Course
    1. Self-Paced Course Starts on May 24, 2023
    2. WeTeach_CS Certification Test Prep Days (In-Person)
      1. June 21 - 23, 2023
  7. Monthly Support Sessions  (VIRTUAL)
    1. Dates TBD
  8. Physical Computing in Python  (VIRTUAL)
    1. Dates TBD (Fall 2023)
  9. WTCS Summit (Fort Worth) (In-Person)
    1. June 11-12, 2024
All teachers in the WeTeach_CS Rural Certification Collaborative project are expected to challenge the TExES 241 Computer Science Competency Exam no later than May 2024.

Upon successful completion of the professional development portion of the program, each participant will receive a stipend of $1,500.

Certification Incentive Program (CIP) - Additional $1,000 Stipend opportunity! As you prepare to take the test, apply for the CIP stipend at https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/epic/weteachcs/certification

READY TO APPLY?

Please find below the information that you will need to provide on the application. 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY BY APRIL 14, 2023

Applicant Information

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone
  • Email
  • Current School Information
    • School District
    • School Name
    • School Address
    • Principal Name & Email
    • School Phone & Email
    • School Demographics (Ethnicity Breakdown & Economically Disadvantaged %)
  • Teaching Experience
    • Current Teaching Assignments
    • Previous Teaching Assignments (Last 3 years)
    • How Many Years Experience
    • Teaching Certifications (list all certifications)
  • Have you participated in a WeTeach_CS Collaborative before?
  • Have you previously taken any computer science courses? If so, please list. 
  • What is your level of programming experience?
    • Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, Expert 
  • All teachers in the Rural Collaborative project are expected to challenge the TExES 241 Computer Science Competency Exam by May 31, 2024
  • Personal Demographic Information (For reporting purposes only)

Essay Questions

  • How do you define equity within your practice of teaching?
  • What kind of students should take a computer science class?
  • What are some barriers preventing your school from offering computer science?
  • How does preparing more diverse students for computer science careers improve the quality of the field?
  • How would you like to learn or develop through this program?

Required Documents

  • Principal Letter of Support (TEMPLATE)
    • Stresses that they will be able to teach computer science at the school

This program is contingent on final funding approval from the US Department of Education.