Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is partnering with Google in an annual call to action during CSEd Week (Dec. 6 -12) to inspire students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners such as CafeCS that support this important field of study. CSEdWeek 2021 features virtual events for educators, policymakers, students, and families, including classroom lesson plans for teachers,  a coding event in collaboration with The Hour of Code, and additional online events like a Panel Discussion with CS Heros and information on how to Build Your Own CS Advo-Kit, where teachers can expose students to computer science advocacy. Districtwide events include the following:

• How Did I Get Here! A virtual panel of District Alumni including James Luoug (Lane Tech) talking about their jobs in technology working at Google and other tech companies at noon Dec 8.

• Careers in CS! Add robotics and gaming to ways to get to a career and college! A CPS and Google virtual panel for District parents at 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8, in Spanish language and 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, and Dec. 9 in English.

• First Lego League Competition for District students in upper elementary and middle school at Lindblom Math & Science Academy at 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. 

Since CPS made the landmark decision in 2016 to require students to take a computer science course to graduate, CPS has partnered with the Chicago Alliance for Equity in Computer Science (CAFÉCS) with computer science professionals working side-by-side with the District to support teachers and promote high-quality high school computer science programs and education. To date, more than 65,000 CPS students have received computer science training. For more information and to register for Computer Science EdWeek 2021 events, please visit https://www.csedweek.org/events.