Aldine ISD Teaming Up With Amazon to Bring Computer Science Education to 54 Campuses

Aldine ISD has been selected to receive funding from Amazon as part of the Amazon Future Engineer program to bring computer science education and teacher professional development to 54 elementary schools, serving more than 29,000 students. Of the 54 schools, all are Title I campuses, which serve students who often come from low-income families or otherwise would not have access to computer science education.

The Amazon Future Engineer program delivers virtual and in-person teacher professional development and curriculum, from BootUp, – a nonprofit professional development provider specializing in elementary school education – that focuses on high-quality computer science concepts, practices, and standards for teachers and students. Amazon Future Engineer aims to bring high-quality computer science access to students from underserved and underrepresented communities across the country from childhood to career. 

Providing high-quality computer science education for elementary school students during their school day helps bridge equity skill gaps at an age when students are just beginning to formulate ideas about their futures. In addition to Aldine ISD, the Amazon Future Engineer program is funding computer science education for nearly 200,000 elementary school students, at more than 400 schools and counting across the country. Aldine ISD is currently one of only two school districts in Texas that has already been accepted into the program.

“Our ultimate goal for all Aldine students is to provide numerous opportunities to learn computer science from Kindergarten to 12th grade,” Shaina Glass, coordinator of technology applications (computer science/STEM) said. “We are excited that every child at every school in Aldine will have access to computer science which will complete our district’s computer science academic pipeline (K-12). Partnering with Amazon Future Engineer allows us to build a foundation in computer science with computational thinking for elementary students, that will expand across all core content areas.” 

Currently, Aldine ISD offers computer science courses in all of our middle schools, and will be offering Computer Science this school year in high school –including AP Computer Science Principles. We also offer coding and STEM club opportunities for elementary students. Amazon Future Engineer will allow Aldine ISD to expand computer science learning opportunities to the district’s youngest learners. The three-year plan will give elementary students an immersive learning experience, within their regular classroom setting, by integrating computer science in the math and science curriculum. 

“I’m thrilled that Aldine ISD is now part of the Amazon Future Engineer program, said Representative Armando Walle. Computer science will teach our kids to think critically and solve problems. I applaud the educators within Aldine ISD for bringing this important opportunity to their elementary students.”

Source: The number of current open computing jobs comes from the sum of the per-state jobs data from The Conference Board’s Help Wanted OnLine®service. The projected rate of this job growth comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections data for 2016-2026, released in 2017.

Computing occupations are among the highest-paying jobs for new graduates. Yet fewer than 3% of college students graduate with a degree in computer science, and only 8% of STEM graduates are in computer science. If our students complete courses in Computer Science they are increasing their opportunities to not only major in Computer Science in college but to also work in a STEM field. 

“We’ve been so impressed with the stories we hear of elementary school teachers who are going above and beyond to keep their young students engaged, nurtured, and smiling, especially during these difficult times,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO Worldwide Consumer, Amazon. “As virtual classrooms become more common, we are confident that a focus on younger students in need will be an important and timely asset for teachers as they prepare all of their students for a bright future.”

“This opportunity will close equity gaps by enabling professional computer science learning for students in under-served communities throughout the nation,” said Clark Merkley, BootUp’s Executive Director. “It’s truly one of the first national sponsorships focused on implementing sustainable, district-wide technology initiatives. We’re extremely proud to be a part of something that will have a measurable, positive impact for decades to come.”

This commitment to Aldine ISD is part of Amazon’s $50 million investment to increase access to computer science/STEM education across the country, primarily through its childhood to career program, Amazon Future Engineer. In addition, Amazon has donated more than $20 million to organizations that promote Computer Science/STEM education. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon Future Engineer has extended the deadline for school districts to apply for elementary school computer science coursework through BootUp. BootUp is well prepared with virtual opportunities to account for the uncertainty of the current educational landscape. US school districts can apply online.

Aldine Independent School District is among the top 10 largest school districts in Texas, with more than 66,000 students. The district is home to 82 schools and covers 115 square miles in North Houston. Aldine ISD believes that every Aldine student deserves a high-quality education. These goals will ensure we provide a rigorous and enriching educational experience that prepares every student for success in college, career, and life. For more information about Aldine ISD, please visit our website at aldineisd.org.