Districts across Massachusetts are in varying states of Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) implementation. Many offer a variety of courses at the high school level but few or none in earlier grades. In Massachusetts, 82% of public high schools offer computer science, however, only 5.9% of our public high school students take a foundational computer science course. The following implementation resources assist schools and districts in analyzing their current DLCS programming and, from this analysis, design and implement a comprehensive DLCS program that prepares all students within the district for a career in the 21st century.
DLCS Curriculum Frameworks The Digital Literacy and Computer Science Curriculum Frameworks were released in 2016 and contain the practices and standards that all Massachusetts students are expected to learn at these grade spans: K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12.
Standards Navigator The Standards Navigator provides access to the learning standards, shows how the standards connect across grades and subjects, and provides related resources such as student work exemplars, quick reference guides, and definitions of terms. Additionally, it provides an easy way to export standards to a spreadsheet.
DLCS District Implementation Process DESE has developed best practices in approaching the visioning and implementation of DLCS education in districts. The process, resources, and tools encompassed in these best practices have been documented in the DLCS District Implementation Process document.
2022 Massachusetts Curriculum Guide — updated 4/12/2023 DESE contracted with STEM Learning Design to evaluate the landscape of Digital Literacy and Computer Science curricula that was available. The Massachusetts DLCS Curriculum Guide provides districts with an evaluation of the best curricula that is available. In addition, STEM Learning Design did an independent review of the standards that each curriculum covers and denotes with an * those with a "comprehensive" coverage of DLCS standards. The 2022 version is the third publication of the Curriculum Guide.
Georgia DOE: Methods for Integrated Computing A free, on-line, self-paced course created by the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia State University, and ISTE.
Suggested Standards by Grade (K–5) This document was created with input from many Massachusetts educators and district leaders. It provides guidance on which DLCS standards you may consider covering in each grade.
Broadening Participation of Elementary Students and Teachers in Computer Science Broadening Participation of Elementary Students and Teachers in Computer Science was an NSF project that partnered ESE, the Education Development Center (EDC) and school districts around the state. This partnership developed and piloted instructional curriculum modules to facilitate implementation of the computational thinking strand of the 2016 Digital Literacy and Computer Science standards in grades 1–6.
The project website includes a computational thinking handbook, recorded computational thinking webinars, and integrated modules that include graphic resources, student pages, and a teacher's guide.
Suggested Standards by Grade (6–8) This document was created with input from many Massachusetts educators and district leaders. It provides guidance on which DLCS standards you may consider covering in each grade.
PACE Continuous Equity Support EDC, in collaboration with DESE as part of its PACE project, has created a 3-course on-line PD to help district teams evaluate and improve equity in middle school CS courses.
CSUnplugged Free teaching lessons and associated materials to begin teaching Computer Science without using a computer.
Commonwealth Virtual Schools (CMVS) Students may take courses offered by a Commonwealth Virtual School (CMVS) if the district and the CMVS have entered into an agreement to provide such courses. As for any coursework outside of school, parents/guardians should know in advance how the virtual course will be treated in terms of grades, course credit, and grade point average (GPA). Two virtual schools currently operate in Massachusetts: Greater Commonwealth Virtual School (GCVS) and TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School (TECCA).
Suggested High School Courses This document was created with input from many Massachusetts educators and district leaders. It provides an example implementation of high school curriculum.
Exploring Computer Science (ESP) Exploring Computer Science is a high school introductory computer science course
Computational Thinking and Problem Solving (CTPS) Computational Thinking and Problem Solving is a collaborative project-based curriculum for high school students who have already taken an introductory CS course either in middle school or high school.
Computer Science Principles (CSP) — AP and non-AP levels Computer Science Principles is a foundational computer science course created to "attract students from a broader range of groups to computer science." (CollegeBoard) It may be offered as an AP or non-AP course.
CSTeacherTips Tips developed by Harvey Mudd College research through funding by the National Science Foundation. These tips for CS education include how to recruit students, identify opportunities for inclusive teaching strategies, and practice responding to microaggressions.
Last Updated: May 18, 2023
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