New Jersey grants FDU $333,330 for computer science

August 31, 2022 — The New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) has selected Fairleigh Dickinson University as one of just two higher education institutions to be awarded a grant to use for computer science education under the Computer Science for All initiative.

This year, FDU will receive $333,330 and, if funds are available, will receive another $333,330 the next year. Last year, FDU was awarded a similar grant worth $263,339. Montclair State is the other institution to earn this grant this year.

This grant will help Fairleigh Dickinson University to create hubs that will provide high-quality professional learning for educators and resources for school districts to increase computer science opportunities for students. The grants will also help build partnerships with stakeholders to promote the growth of computer science education.

According to the New Jersey Department of Education website, “The purpose of this two-year grant program, Computer Science (CS) for All: Implementing the 2020 Computer Science Student Learning Standards, is to provide professional learning, resources, and technical assistance to New Jersey schools and Local Education Agencies (LEA) as they prepare to implement the 2020 New Jersey Computer Science Student Learning Standards (2020 NJSLS-CS) and to expand access to equitable high-quality, standards-based computer science education for all K-12 students. The NGO will establish 3 programs at New Jersey Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) to extend the New Jersey Department of Education’s (NJDOE) ability to support the implementation of the 2020 NJSLS-CS, and to ensure that all K–12 students have equitable access to high-quality educators and high-quality, standards-based Computer Science (CS) curriculum and instruction.

“The ‘CS for All: Implementing the 2020 Computer Science Standards’ grant program is a limited competitive grant program open to two-year and four-year New Jersey-based IHEs who apply on behalf of a partnership that includes a minimum of three New Jersey LEAs. The partnership must include at least one eligible LEA that received FY21 funds under Title I, Part A of the federal ESEA as amended by ESSA.”