Activities per year
Abstract
Purpose: We aim to better understand the curricular, staffing, and achievement trade-offs entailed by expansions of high-school computer science (CS) for students, schools, and school leaders. Methods: We use descriptive, correlational, and quasi-experimental methods to analyze statewide longitudinal course-, school-, and staff-level data from California, where CS course taking has expanded rapidly. Findings: We find that these rapid CS course expansions have not come at the expense of CS teachers’ observable qualifications (namely certification, education, or experience). Within-school course taking patterns over time suggest that CS enrollment growth has come at the expense of social studies, English/language arts (ELA), and arts courses, as well as from other miscellaneous electives. However, we find no evidence that increased enrollment of students in CS courses at a school has a significant effect on students’ math or ELA test scores. Implications: Flexible authorization requirements for CS teachers appear to have allowed school leaders to staff new CS courses with teachers whose observable qualifications are strong, though we do not observe teachers’ CS teaching skill. Increasing CS participation is unlikely to noticeably improve school-level student test scores, but administrators also do not need to be overly concerned that test scores will suffer. However, school leaders and policymakers should think carefully about what courses new CS courses will replace and whether such replacements are worthwhile.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 386-418 |
Number of pages | 33 |
Journal | Educational Administration Quarterly |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2022 |
Keywords
- computer science education
- high schools
- California
- leadership
- course taking
- california
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- Public Administration
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Dive into the research topics of 'Computer Science Trends and Trade-offs in California High Schools'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Activities
- 1 Invited talk
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Trends, Trade-offs, and Equity in Computer Science in California High Schools
Bruno, P. A. (Speaker)
Jan 2022Activity: Talk types › Invited talk
Press/Media
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Media Coverage of: California Computer Science Education Policy Research
2/24/22 → 10/5/23
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Studies examine effects of California's push for computer science education
2/24/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Four Practical Challenges for High School Computer Science
Bruno, P., Saffar Perez, M. & Lewis, C. M., Jul 2022, Stanford, CA: Policy Analysis for California Education.Research output: Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Other report
Open Access -
Equity in high school computer science: Beyond access
Bruno, P. & Lewis, C. M., Dec 29 2021, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Policy Futures in Education.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access