Infosys Foundation USA Awards $65,000 for Computer Science for Rhode Island

Published on Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Implementation Grants Will Help Districts Develop K-12 CS Pathways 

PROVIDENCE, RI - The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) announced today that Infosys Foundation USA has awarded a $65,000 grant to support Computer Science for Rhode Island (CS4RI). The funding will be used to provide implementation grants to school districts to develop K-12 computer science pathways. Five to seven districts will receive funds, with sub-grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 each.

CS4RI launched in 2016 as an initiative of Governor Gina Raimondo, with an initial goal of integrating computer science education into every school in Rhode Island. The initiative continues to expand, providing professional learning to educators, creating CS learning opportunities at all grade levels, and accelerating demand for computer science education.

“More Rhode Island students than ever before have access to computer science education, and we’re not taking our foot off the gas,” said Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “The skills acquired through computer science are critical in a 21st century workforce, and when we lay the foundation early and reinforce it through a strong K-12 pathway, we position our students for success. I’m grateful to Infosys Foundation USA for supporting Computer Science for Rhode Island and helping our state prepare the talent pipeline we need to grow our economy.”

“Computer science is a foundational skill for all students,” said Kate Maloney, Executive Director, Infosys Foundation USA. “Imparting K-12 students with these skills requires us all to ensure that their teachers are technically prepared and confident about bringing these concepts into the classroom. I am proud that the Foundation can support Rhode Island in its goal of having CS taught within each of its public schools.”

“Preparing students for college and career doesn’t start in high school; it starts as soon as a student enters school, and that means we need programming that is aligned from one grade to the next. These CS4RI grants, made possible through the generosity of Infosys Foundation USA, will help us to build a stronger, more cohesive, and more comprehensive system of computer science education,” said Angélica Infante-Green, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.

District implementation grant applications are now available, with proposals due by Monday, October 14 at 9 a.m. Grants will be awarded at the end of October, with final implementation plans due back to RIDE and the CS4RI team by May 31, 2020.

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